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Committee hears revisions to polling‑place ID law with tribal ID and university IDs included
Summary
SB276 would revise Montana's voter‑identification rules for in‑person polling to include tribal IDs and Montana University System college IDs as acceptable forms of photo identification; proponents say the bill reflects court guidance and restores tribal IDs as primary ID.
Sen. Mike Cuff presented Senate Bill 276 to the committee as an updated voter‑identification measure for in‑person polling. Proponents including a representative of the Secretary of State said the bill restores tribal identification as a primary form of ID and brings Montana University System student IDs into the list of accepted photo IDs, answering issues raised in prior litigation.
Austin James, representing the Secretary of State, said the language mirrors other states that include university IDs and was drafted to encompass tribal colleges and private universities so those students can use campus photo ID. County clerks that testified in support said the bill covers provisional voting procedures and that previously struck language restoring provisional-ballot safeguards had been reinserted.
Questions from committee members focused on the forms of acceptable ID, how provisional ballots will be handled for voters without ID and whether the bill's language covers tribal colleges and private university IDs. Proponents said the bill aims to balance access while ensuring reliable identification at the polls.
The committee heard testimony and closed the hearing; no votes were taken.
