In Helena, the Senate debated and advanced a bill to tighten residency requirements for voters, which proponents say will make sure that each county’s voters are a permanent part of the community. But, opponents say the measure will unfairly restrict student voters. House Bill 413, carried by Rep. Jane Gillett (a Republican from Three Forks) and Sen. Shelley Vance (a Republican from Belgrade) would mean that a person could not be considered a resident in an election if they live in a community for “temporary work, training, or an educational program,” unless it is their intent to remain in the county permanently. The Senate has already approved the bill on a 31-19 vote and it now faces one more vote before heading to the governor’s desk. Back in the House, it passed on a 56-42 vote.
Democratic Senator Janet Ellis, a Democrat from Helena, spoke in opposition to the bill, saying it will suppress the votes of students and workers in temporary positions, unless they are positive that they will remain in the county indefinitely. She told her colleagues many people don’t think about whether they’ll stay in an area or not. She pointed out that, after 60 days, a person is eligible for a Montana Drivers License. That’s when most people register to vote.
But Sen. Vance said, especially in local elections, votes from people without knowledge of the community can have large impacts. The claims laws can be passed by “uneducated people who really don’t care bout their communities.”
