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Committee hears bill to allow electronic ballot return for voters with disabilities
Summary
House Bill 488 would let voters with disabilities request and return electronic ballots to preserve ballot secrecy and independence; disability-rights groups, county clerks, and elections staff endorsed the measure while committee members pressed on eligibility, security and fiscal issues. Sponsor requested do-pass.
Representative Julie Darling introduced House Bill 488 to allow voters with disabilities to request an electronic ballot and return it via an encrypted electronic ballot return system (EBRS), extending protections like those used for overseas and military voters.
Proponents — including the National Federation of the Blind, Disability Rights Montana, Ability Montana, and county clerks — described the proposal as closing an accessibility gap: many voters can use…
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