Montana committee hears debate on bill to add Saturday registration and limit same-day hours for federal races

Senator Mike Cuffe, sponsor of Senate Bill 490, told the House State Administration Committee on Tuesday that the bill would add a Saturday registration opportunity the weekend before a federal election and set a noon cutoff on election day for federal races to reduce late-night processing by election workers.

"This is a great common sense solution to a continuing problem of voting poll workers having to work... and fatigue brings the added possibility of mistakes," Cuffe said, urging the committee to grant the bill a do-pass recommendation.

Supporters including Broadwater County Clerk and Recorder Angie Paulsen and Lewis and Clark County elections administrator Connor Fitzpatrick described operational strain under the current late-registration practice. Paulsen said some counties saw lines "out the door from 7AM until 8PM" and that Monday before an election is a critical work day to print registers and prepare machines. She said Saturday hours would let election offices serve voters who cannot make weekday hours and relieve staff that now work into the early morning.

Opponents — including Jay…