Bill would let Montana election officials print “official ballot” instead of hand-stamping thousands of ballots

House State Administration Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 242, introduced by Sen. Wendy McKamey, which would allow election administrators to print the words "official ballot" in a uniform place on ballots rather than hand-stamping each ballot.

Sen. McKamey said the requirement to hand-stamp official ballots is antiquated and creates substantial workload for county clerks and election officials. She described traveling to several counties during the primary and observing staff hand-stamp thousands of ballots, and said the bill would preserve ballot uniformity while reducing that manual burden. "It is a little antiquated piece of activity that is done by the clerks and recorders and our elections officials," she said.

County election administrators and the Montana Association of Clerk and Recorders supported the change. Regina Plettenberg, Ravalli County elections administrator, told the committee her office hand-stamped tens of thousands of absentee ballots in the last primary and said the work distracts staff from other duties. Fergus County Clerk Janelle Tucek said the manual stamping required days of work and described staffing and budget constraints that make automation preferable. Patchi Yawake (representing Fort Belknap and Chippewa Cree tribal communities) and Cora Neumann (Southern Gallatin County) also voiced support.

Don Harris, chief legal counsel for the Department of Administration, participated as an informational witness and said the department would answer technical questions. Committee members asked clarifying questions about uniformity and printing standards; Sen. McKamey and proponents said templates from the Secretary of State could preserve required uniformity while removing the need for manual stamping.

The hearing closed with proponents urging a do‑pass recommendation. No formal committee vote occurred during the hearing.