Montana Youth Action et al. v. Secretary of State
During the 2021 legislative session, the Montana state legislature passed a cocktail of laws burdening Montanans' right of suffrage. Three youth civic engagement organizations--Montana Youth Action, Forward Montana Foundation, and the Montana Public Interest Research Group (MontPIRG)--have brought this lawsuit to challenge three of those laws, recognizing that the cumulative effect of burdensome voting laws falls with particular weight on young voters. The three laws challenged here include Senate Bill 169, which downgrades student ID to a second-class form of voter ID, Section 2 of House Bill 506, which prohibits ballot distribution to voters who will but do not yet meet age- and residency-based voter registration criteria, and House Bill 176, which eliminates election day voter registration. Together and separately, these laws unconstitutionally burden Montanans’ fundamental right to vote, subverting the will of Montana voters and upending norms that Montana voters have come to rely on. This case has been consolidated with two others that challenge two of the same laws, as well as House Bill 530, which prohibits paid ballot collection and likewise burdens Montanans' right of suffrage.
On April 6, 2022, the court granted Plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction. On May 17, 2022, the Montana Supreme Court granted the State's motion for a stay of the injunction as to two of the four enjoined laws. As a result, Election Day registration is unavailable for the June 2022 primary election—voters need to be registered before noon on June 6, 2022—and the ID requirements align with the law passed in 2021. That is, voters must show either a primary ID form or two secondary forms of ID.
These laws went to trial on August 15, 2022. The parties now await the district court's findings of fact and conclusions of law.
Filings / Press
Complaint (September 9, 2021)
State's Answer to the Complaint (November 12, 2021)
Sam Wilson, Lawsuit by Montana youth groups calls new republican election laws a cocktail of voter suppression, Independent Record (Sept. 9, 2021)
Nora Mabie, Youth coalition files lawsuit challenging Montana laws they say reduce youth voter turnout, Great Falls Tribune (Sept. 9, 2021)
Alex Sakariassen, Youth voting groups file Montana’s fourth election lawsuit, Montana Free Press (Sept. 9, 2021)
Mike Dennison, Another lawsuit challenges new voting restrictions in Montana, KTVH (Sept. 9, 2021)
Associated Press, Groups challenge new Montana laws they say stifle youth vote, (Sept. 9, 2021)
Lauren Berg, New Montana Laws Suppress Youth Vote, Groups Say, Law360 (Sept. 10, 2021)
Plaintiffs' Motion to Consolidate (November 9, 2021)
Plaintiffs' Brief in Support (November 9, 2021)
State's Brief in Opposition (November 24, 2021)
Plaintiffs' Reply in Support (November 29, 2021)
Order Granting Plaintiffs' Motion to Consolidate (December 13, 2021)
Plaintiffs' Application for Preliminary Injunction (January 12, 2022)
Plaintiffs' Brief in Support (January 12, 2022)
State's Brief in Opposition (February 17, 2022)
Plaintiff's Reply in Support (March 2, 2022)
Order Granting Plaintiffs' Application for Preliminary Injunction (April 6, 2022)
Eric Tegethoff, Youth Groups File to Stop New MT Election Laws Before 2022 Primary, Public News Service (Jan. 19, 2022)
Darrell Ehrlich, Judge hears groups’ arguments to issue preliminary injunction against four voting rights laws, (Mar. 10, 2022)
Alex Sakariassen, Making the case on voting rights, Montana Free Press (Mar. 10, 2022)
Amy Beth Hanson, Judge hears arguments in challenges over new election laws, Associated Press (Mar. 10, 2022)
Sam Wilson, Judge blocks 4 new voting laws backed by MT GOP, Helena Independent Record (April 6, 2022)
Alex Sakariassen, District court blocks new voting laws, Montana Free Press (April 6, 2022)
Ashley Nerbovig, Judge temporarily halts several new Montana voting laws ahead of statewide election, KTVH Helena (April 6, 2022)
Amy Beth Hanson, Montana judge temporarily blocks new election laws, Associated Press (April 6, 2022)
State's Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment (June 3, 2022)
State's Brief in Support (June 3, 2022)
Plaintiffs' Brief in Opposition (June 24, 2022)
State's Reply in Support (July 6, 2022)
Oral Argument Heard (July 11, 2022)
Order Denying State's Motion for Summary Judgment (July 27, 2022)
NBC Montana, Judge rules law violates new voters' rights to access their ballot (July 27, 2022)
Meridith Depping, Judge rules house bill restricting ballot access for 18-year-olds is against Montana Constitution, KFBB Great Falls (July 27, 2022)
Amy Beth Hanson, Judges Finds New Montana Election Law Unconstitutional, Associated Press (July 28, 2022)
Valley Journal, Ruling says 18-year-olds must be allowed to access their ballots (August 3, 2022)
Plaintiffs' Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment (June 3, 2022)
Plaintiffs' Brief in Support (June 3, 2022)
State's Brief in Opposition (June 24, 2022)
Plaintiffs' Reply in Support (July 6, 2022)
Oral Argument Heard (July 11, 2022)
Order Granting Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment (July 27, 2022)
NBC Montana, Judge rules law violates new voters' rights to access their ballot (July 27, 2022)
Meridith Depping, Judge rules house bill restricting ballot access for 18-year-olds is against Montana Constitution, KFBB Great Falls (July 27, 2022)
Amy Beth Hanson, Judges Finds New Montana Election Law Unconstitutional, Associated Press (July 28, 2022)
Valley Journal, Ruling says 18-year-olds must be allowed to access their ballots (August 3, 2022)
Bench Trial (August 15th - August 26th, 2022)
Amy Beth Hanson, Trial starts in challenge to new Montana voting laws, Associated Press (August 15, 2022)
Jackie Coffin, Trial begins for controversial new voting laws, heard by Billings judge, KTVQ Billings (August 15, 2022)
Missoula Current, Trial challenging new Montana laws restricting young voters to begin, (August 15, 2022)
Darrell Ehrlick, New laws create confusion, treat voters differently witnesses testify, Daily Montanan (August 18, 2022)
Keith Schubert, Election, disability experts testify as trial over election laws enters week two, Daily Montanan (August 22, 2022)
Darrell Ehrlick, State rep testifies GOP leadership wanted laws to make it harder for youth to vote in Montana, Daily Montanan (August 23, 2022)
Jackie Coffin, Montana voting rights trial moves into second week; state lawmaker testifies, KTVQ Billings (August 23, 2022)
Darrell Ehrlick, State senator admits laws could disenfranchise voters, but believes habits will change, Daily Montanan (August 24, 2022)
Shaylee Ragar, Trial over the legality of Montana's new voting restrictions ends, Montana Public Radio (August 29, 2022)