Montana judge blocks Election Day voter registration restrictions amid lawsuit
A Montana judge has halted a new law that would have restricted voter registration on Election Day. The ruling stops the state from enforcing the measure while a lawsuit from the Montana Federation of Public Employees and Native American tribes proceeds. Critics argued the law would have disenfranchised thousands of voters, particularly young people and Indigenous communities. The blocked law, passed in 2025, would have barred voters from casting ballots in federal races if they registered after noon on Election Day. Legislators pushed it forward despite warnings from their own staff that it might clash with a 2024 Supreme Court decision. That earlier ruling had struck down a similar law, declaring it a violation of the state Constitution’s protection of voting rights.
Montana has permitted same-day registration since 2006, and voters have repeatedly supported the policy. In 2014, 57% rejected a ballot initiative to end it. The judge highlighted that many Montanans—especially students, young workers, and Native Americans—rely on afternoon registration due to scheduling conflicts, long travel distances, or limited transportation. The Montana Federation of Public Employees argued the law was an attempt to silence voters. Their lawsuit claimed it unfairly targeted groups already facing barriers, such as Indigenous communities on rural reservations and students who move frequently.
The judge’s decision ensures Election Day registration remains available for now. The law will stay blocked until the lawsuit concludes. Supporters of same-day registration say it protects a fundamental right that Montanans have upheld for nearly two decades.
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