The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-10-21
THE ELECTION LAWS.
Provisions Of Montana Statutes That
should Not Be Violated.

should Not Be Violated.
Some of the local politicians are
discussing the Montana laws relating
to elections, but which are frequently
disregarded in many parts OF the
state. They are given so little atten.
ton, and their provisions are SO gen.
orally overlooked, that their existence
is almost forgotten.
1t will probably be a surprise to
many citizens to learn that betting on
the result of an election is prohibited
by the Montana statutes, but here Is
the law passed by the legislative as
sembly of 1895. aud which is still in
effect:
'Every person who shall bet or
wager any money or property, or
other valuable thing, on the result OF
any election authorized by the con-
stitution or laws OF the United States
or of this state, or who shall know
iugly become stakeholder Of such bet
or wager, shall be punished by q fine
of not less than S25 nor more than
81, OOO."
Another law passed at the same
session prohibits the sale, or giving
away, or furnishing of Intoxicating
beverages on election day, during the
time the polls are open. Violation of
this law is punishable by six months
in Jail, or by a fine of $50 to $500, or
both fine and imprisonment.
In the same law are several provis.
ions relating to the disbursements that
may be made by candidates to secure
their nomination Or election. The
candidates for membership in congress
or for any state Office must not incur
expenses exceeding 5 $1,000. and the
personal expenses of a candidate for
county office are limited to 500.
!, 1t is also provided that: "No per-
, son shall, in order TO promote his
own nomination or election TO a public
Office, directly or indirectly. promise to
appoint or to secure the appointment
or election of another person to a
public position, or to a position OF
honor, trust or emolument, ii he shall
, himself be elected to the public office
for which he is a candidate" Viola.
, tion of this law subjects the offender
to three months in Jail and a fine no,
exceeding $1,000.
. The officers Of a political committee
whose finances exceed the sum of ten
dollars are required, under another
| section of the law. to file with the
county clerk a true and correct state
ment of their campaign fund, in which
each item of the receipts and expendi.
lures shall be stated. This statemen,
is to be filed within thirty days from
{ the date of the election.
Another section of the law says
. No political committee, and no person
acting under the authority or in be
: half of a political committee, shall
! demand, solicit or invite a paymen
of money or promise Of payment o
money to be used in an election, from
d peTSOu WIN uhS Uccu uOLulu dleu d.
> a candidate for public Office in suct
election: and no person SO nominated
: shall make any such payment to {
political committee, or to any person
= acting under its authority, If such
L committee or person has demanded
{ solicited or invited from him any suct
: payment or promise of payment
y Penalties are provided for violations
. of this section of the law.
{ The law also states that any person
who, directly or indirectly, gives OF
lends, or promises to give or lend
any money or other valuable consid
GRAFTON to any elector or any othel
person, for the purpose of securing
Q votes, or TO prevent any elector from
. voting, is guilty of bribery. TIT
penalty is a fine not exceeding 81, ZOO
and a penitentiary sentence not ex
= ceeding q year.
There are several other sections o
the law which define what constitut,
a otfenses in political campaigns, bu
, the extracts above presented are tn,
i more important features of the law
y The regulations are seldom enforced
but they form part of the Montan;
statutes which every citizen Is sup
! posed to obey.