reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MT Code § 13-19-104 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 1. General Provisions|13-19-104. Mail ballot elections not mandatory -- when authorized -- when prohibited -- when county election administrator conducts

  13-19-104. Mail ballot elections not mandatory -- when authorized -- when prohibited -- when county election administrator conducts. (1) Conducting elections by mail ballot is only one option available to local officials, and this chapter does not mandate that the procedure be used.   (2) Except as provided in subsection (3), any election may be conducted by mail ballot.   (3) The following elections may not be conducted by mail ballot:   (a) a regularly scheduled federal, state, or county election;   (b) a special federal or state election, unless authorized by the legislature; or   (c) a regularly scheduled or special election when another election in the political subdivision is taking place at the polls on the same day.   (4) (a) Except as provided in subsection (4)(b), if more than one mail ballot election is being conducted in the political subdivision on the same day, the county election administrator shall conduct the elections.   (b) The requirement that a county election administrator shall conduct more than one mail ballot election on the same day does not apply to a mail ballot school bond election conducted by the trustees of any two or more school districts that have unified pursuant to 20-6-312 or that have created a joint board of trustees pursuant to 20-3-361.   History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 10, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 146, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 264, L. 2005.
MT Code § 13-19-105 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 1. General Provisions|13-19-105. Role of secretary of state

  13-19-105. Role of secretary of state. In addition to other powers and duties conveyed by law, the secretary of state, with advice from election administrators, shall:   (1) prescribe the form of materials to be used in the conduct of mail ballot elections;   (2) review written plans for the conduct of mail ballot elections as provided in 13-19-205; and   (3) adopt rules consistent with this chapter to:   (a) establish and maintain uniformity in the conduct of mail ballot elections; and   (b) establish procedures for the conduct of mail ballot elections that, when implemented by the election administrator:   (i) prevent fraud;   (ii) ensure the accurate handling and canvassing of mail ballots; and   (iii) ensure that the secrecy of voted ballots is maintained.   History: En. Sec. 6, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 32, Ch. 297, L. 2009.
MT Code § 13-19-106 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 1. General Provisions|13-19-106. General requirements for mail ballot election

  13-19-106. General requirements for mail ballot election. A mail ballot election must be conducted substantially as follows:   (1) Subject to 13-12-202, official mail ballots must be prepared and all other initial procedures followed as provided by law, except that mail ballots must be paper ballots and are not required to have stubs.   (2) An official ballot must be mailed to every qualified elector of the political subdivision conducting the election.   (3) Each signature envelope must contain a form that is the same as the form for absentee ballot signature envelopes and that is prescribed by the secretary of state for the elector to verify the accuracy of the elector's address or notify the election administrator of the elector's correct mailing address and to return the corrected address with the voted ballot in the manner provided by 13-19-306.   (4) The elector shall mark the ballot and place it in a secrecy envelope.   (5) (a) The elector shall then place the secrecy envelope containing the elector's ballot in a signature envelope and mail it or deliver it in person to a place of deposit designated by the election administrator.   (b) Except as provided in 13-21-206 and 13-21-226, the voted ballot must be received before 8 p.m. on election day.   (6) Election officials shall first qualify the voted ballot by examining the signature envelope to determine whether it is submitted by a qualified elector who has not previously voted in the election.   (7) If the voted ballot qualifies and is otherwise valid, officials shall then open the signature envelope and remove the secrecy envelope, which must be deposited unopened in an official ballot box pursuant to the timeline specified in 13-13-241(7).   (8) Except as provided in 13-19-312, voted ballots must be counted and canvassed as provided in Title 13, chapter 15.   History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 591, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 338, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 546, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 76, Ch. 414, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 443, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 33, Ch. 297, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 101, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 64, Ch. 242, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 139, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 55, Ch. 336, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 229, L. 2019.
MT Code § 13-19-201 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 2. Preelection Procedure|13-19-201. How election initiated

  13-19-201. How election initiated. A proposal to conduct an election under this chapter may be initiated by either the election administrator or the appropriate governing body as provided in 13-19-202 through 13-19-204.   History: En. Sec. 7, Ch. 196, L. 1985.
MT Code § 13-19-202 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 2. Preelection Procedure|13-19-202. Initiation by governing body

  13-19-202. Initiation by governing body. (1) A political subdivision may, by resolution of the governing body addressed to the election administrator, request that a particular election be conducted under the provisions of this chapter.   (2) No later than 70 days before election day, the governing body shall transmit its request to the election administrator, who shall determine whether it is economically and administratively feasible to conduct the requested election by mail ballot.   (3) Except as provided in 13-19-204, the decision to conduct an election under the provisions of this chapter is within the sole discretion of the election administrator.   (4) Within 5 days after receiving a request, the election administrator shall respond in writing, stating that the request is either granted or denied for reasons specified. If granted, the election administrator shall prepare a plan as provided in 13-19-205.   History: En. Sec. 8, Ch. 196, L. 1985.
MT Code § 13-19-203 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 2. Preelection Procedure|13-19-203. Initiation by election administrator

  13-19-203. Initiation by election administrator. (1) Even if a request has not been received from the governing body concerned, the election administrator may conduct any election authorized by 13-19-104 under this chapter if the election administrator determines that a mail ballot election is the most economically and administratively feasible way of conducting the election in question.   (2) If the election administrator decides to conduct an election pursuant to subsection (1), the election administrator shall prepare a written plan as provided in 13-19-205 and forward a copy to the governing body concerned, together with a written statement informing the governing body of the decision to conduct the election by mail ballot, the reasons for the decision, and the right of the governing body to object under 13-19-204.   History: En. Sec. 9, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 77, Ch. 56, L. 2009.
MT Code § 13-19-204 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 2. Preelection Procedure|13-19-204. Objection of political subdivision

  13-19-204. Objection of political subdivision. (1) A political subdivision may, by resolution of the governing body, object to the conduct of one of its elections under this chapter. The resolution must include a statement of the reasons for the objection.   (2) If the resolution is filed with the election administrator no later than 55 days prior to election day, the election may not be conducted by mail under this chapter.   History: En. Sec. 10, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 34, Ch. 297, L. 2009.
MT Code § 13-19-205 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 2. Preelection Procedure|13-19-205. Written plan for conduct of election -- amendments -- approval procedures

  13-19-205. Written plan for conduct of election -- amendments -- approval procedures. (1) The election administrator shall prepare a written plan for the conduct of each election to be conducted by mail and shall submit the plan to the secretary of state in a manner that ensures that it is received at least 60 days prior to the date set for the election. There must be a separate plan for each type of election held even if held on the same day.  (2) The written plan must include:   (a) a timetable for the election;   (b) a plan for providing voter interface devices as required in 13-3-208; and   (c) sample written instructions that will be sent to the electors. The instructions must include but are not limited to:   (i) information on the estimated amount of postage required to return the ballot;   (ii) (A) the location of the places of deposit and the days and times when ballots may be returned to the places of deposit, if the information is available; or   (B) if the information on location and hours of places of deposit is not available, a section that will allow the information to be added before the instructions are mailed to electors; and   (iii) any applicable instructions specified under 13-13-214(4).   (3) The plan may be amended by the election administrator at any time prior to the 35th day before election day by notifying the secretary of state in writing of any changes.   (4) Within 5 days of receiving the plan and as soon as possible after receiving any amendments, the secretary of state shall approve, disapprove, or recommend changes to the plan or amendments.   (5) When the written plan and any amendments have been approved, the election administrator shall proceed to conduct the election according to the approved plan unless the election is cancelled for any reason provided by law.   History: En. Sec. 11, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 35, Ch. 297, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 101, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 189, Ch. 49, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 151, L. 2019; amd. Sec. 16, Ch. 61, L. 2021.
MT Code § 13-19-206 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 2. Preelection Procedure|13-19-206. Distributing materials to electors -- procedure

  13-19-206. Distributing materials to electors -- procedure. For each election conducted under this chapter, the election administrator shall:   (1) mail a single packet to every qualified elector of the political subdivision conducting the election;   (2) ensure that each packet contains only one each of the following:   (a) an official ballot for each type of election being held on the specified election day;   (b) a secrecy envelope;   (c) a signature envelope; and   (d) complete written instructions, as approved by the secretary of state pursuant to 13-19-205, for mail ballot voting procedures;   (3) ensure that each packet is:   (a) addressed to a single individual elector at the most current address available from the official registration records; and   (b) deposited in the United States mail with sufficient postage for it to be delivered to the elector's address; and   (4) mail the packet in a manner that conforms to postal regulations to require the return, not forwarding, of undelivered packets.   History: En. Sec. 13, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 18, Ch. 591, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 338, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 36, Ch. 297, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 101, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 65, Ch. 242, L. 2011.
MT Code § 13-19-207 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 2. Preelection Procedure|13-19-207. When materials to be mailed

  13-19-207. When materials to be mailed. (1) Except as provided in 13-13-205(2) and subsection (2) of this section, for any election conducted by mail, ballots must be mailed no sooner than the 20th day and no later than the 15th day before election day.  (2) All ballots mailed to electors on the active list and the provisionally registered list must be mailed the same day.   (3) (a) At any time before noon on the day before election day, a ballot may be mailed or, on request, provided in person at the election administrator's office to an elector on the inactive list after the elector reactivates the elector's registration as provided in 13-2-222.   (b) An elector on the inactive list shall vote at the election administrator's office on election day if the elector reactivates the elector's registration after noon on the day before election day.   (4) An elector who registers pursuant to 13-2-304 must receive the ballot at the election administrator's office.   History: En. Sec. 14, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 37, Ch. 297, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 101, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 190, Ch. 49, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 244, L. 2021.
MT Code § 13-19-301 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 3. Election Procedure|13-19-301. Voting mail ballots

  13-19-301. Voting mail ballots. (1) Upon receipt of a mailed ballot, the elector may vote by:   (a) marking the ballot in the manner specified;   (b) placing the marked ballot in the secrecy envelope, free of any identifying marks;   (c) placing the secrecy envelope containing one ballot for each election being held in the signature envelope;   (d) executing the affirmation printed on the signature envelope; and   (e) returning the signature envelope with all appropriate enclosures, as provided in 13-19-306.   (2) For the purpose of this chapter, an official ballot is voted when the marked ballot is received at a place of deposit.   (3) A legally registered or provisionally registered elector with a disability may receive and vote a ballot using procedures established in 13-13-246.   History: En. Sec. 16, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 78, Ch. 56, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 38, Ch. 297, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 14, Ch. 101, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 66, Ch. 242, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 247, L. 2015.
MT Code § 13-19-302 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 3. Election Procedure|13-19-302. Proportional voting

  13-19-302. Proportional voting. The election administrator shall provide a method for proportional voting in the administrator's written plan for an election conducted under this chapter that requires votes to be cast in proportion to ownership or any factor other than one vote per person.   History: En. Sec. 12, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 79, Ch. 56, L. 2009.
MT Code § 13-19-303 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 3. Election Procedure|13-19-303. Voting by elector when absent from place of residence during conduct of election

  13-19-303. Voting by elector when absent from place of residence during conduct of election. (1) A qualified elector who will be absent from the county during the time the election is being conducted may:   (a) vote in person in the election administrator's office as soon as ballots are available and until noon the day before the ballots are scheduled to be mailed; or   (b) make a written request, signed by the applicant and addressed to the election administrator, that the ballot be mailed to an address other than the address that appears on the registration form. Written requests must be accepted until noon the day before the ballots are scheduled to be mailed.   (2) (a) Ballots mailed to electors on the active list and provisionally registered list pursuant to this section must be mailed the same day that all other ballots are mailed, except that a ballot requested pursuant to Title 13, chapter 21, may be sent to the elector as soon as the ballot is available.   (b) A ballot may be provided pursuant to this section until noon on the day before election day if, after the ballots are mailed to active and provisionally registered electors:   (i) an inactive elector reactivates the elector's registration as provided in 13-2-222; or   (ii) an individual registers under the late registration option provided for in 13-2-304 and receives a ballot in person.   History: En. Sec. 15, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 39, Ch. 297, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 101, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 18, Ch. 368, L. 2017.
MT Code § 13-19-304 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 3. Election Procedure|13-19-304. Voting by nonregistered electors

  13-19-304. Voting by nonregistered electors. (1) For any election being conducted under this chapter by a political subdivision that allows individuals to vote who are not registered electors, the individual may vote by appearing in person at the election administrator's office or by providing materials by mail, facsimile, or electronic means and demonstrating that the individual possesses the qualifications required for voting.   (2) An individual complying with subsection (1) before official ballots are available may provide a form to the election administrator containing the signature of the individual or the individual's agent designated pursuant to 13-1-116 and the address to which the ballot is to be mailed. The signature provided must be used for verification when the mail ballot is returned.   (3) An individual complying with subsection (1) after official ballots are available and before 8 p.m. on election day must be permitted to vote at that time.   History: En. Sec. 23, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 80, Ch. 56, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 40, Ch. 297, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 56, Ch. 336, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 19, Ch. 368, L. 2017.
MT Code § 13-19-305 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 3. Election Procedure|13-19-305. Replacement ballots

  13-19-305. Replacement ballots. Replacement ballots may be issued as specified in 13-13-204.   History: En. Sec. 17, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 81, Ch. 56, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 41, Ch. 297, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 16, Ch. 101, L. 2011.
MT Code § 13-19-306 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 3. Election Procedure|13-19-306. Returning marked ballots -- when -- where

  13-19-306. Returning marked ballots -- when -- where. (1) After complying with 13-19-301, an elector or the elector's agent or designee may return the elector's ballot on or before election day by either:   (a) depositing the signature envelope in the United States mail, with sufficient postage affixed; or   (b) returning it to any place of deposit designated by the election administrator pursuant to 13-19-307.   (2) Except as provided in 13-21-206 and 13-21-226, in order for the ballot to be counted, each elector shall return it in a manner that ensures it is received prior to 8 p.m. on election day.   History: En. Sec. 18, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 19, Ch. 591, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 82, Ch. 56, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 42, Ch. 297, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 101, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 67, Ch. 242, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 139, L. 2013.
MT Code § 13-19-307 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 3. Election Procedure|13-19-307. Places of deposit -- poll watchers authorized

  13-19-307. Places of deposit -- poll watchers authorized. (1) (a) The election administrator shall designate the election administrator's office and may designate one or more places in the political subdivision in which the election is being conducted as places of deposit where ballots may be returned in person by the elector or the elector's agent or designee.  (b) If the election administrator's office is not accessible pursuant to 13-3-205, the election administrator shall designate at least one accessible place of deposit.   (2) Prior to election day, ballots may be returned to any designated place of deposit during the days and times set by the election administrator and within the regular business hours of the location.   (3) On election day, each location designated as a place of deposit must be open as provided in 13-1-106, and ballots may be returned during those hours.   (4) The election administrator may designate certain locations as election day places of deposit, and any designated location functions as a place of deposit only on election day.   (5) Each place of deposit must be staffed by at least two election officials who, except for election judges serving in elections under Title 20, chapter 20, are selected in the same manner as provided for the selection of election judges in 13-4-102.   (6) The election administrator shall provide each designated place of deposit with an official ballot transport box secured as provided by law.   (7) Poll watchers must be allowed as provided in 13-13-120 and 13-13-121 at each place of deposit during the days and times that the place of deposit is open for the return of ballots.   History: En. Sec. 19, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 83, Ch. 56, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 43, Ch. 297, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 68, Ch. 242, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 315, L. 2021.
MT Code § 13-19-308 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 3. Election Procedure|13-19-308. Disposition of ballots returned in person

  13-19-308. Disposition of ballots returned in person. If a ballot is returned in person by the elector or the elector's agent or designee to a place of deposit other than the election administrator's office, the election officials on location shall:   (1) keep a log of the names of all electors for whom the officials receive ballots;   (2) deposit the unopened signature envelope in the sealed ballot transport box provided for that purpose; and   (3) securely retain all voted ballots until they are transported to the election administrator's office. The transport boxes must then be opened and the ballots handled in the same manner provided for ballots returned under 13-19-309.   History: En. Sec. 20, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 20, Ch. 591, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 84, Ch. 56, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 44, Ch. 297, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 18, Ch. 101, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 69, Ch. 242, L. 2011.
MT Code § 13-19-309 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 3. Election Procedure|13-19-309. Disposition of ballots returned to election administrator's office

  13-19-309. Disposition of ballots returned to election administrator's office. Ballots returned to the election administrator's office must be handled as provided for absentee ballots in 13-13-241.   History: En. Sec. 21, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 77, Ch. 414, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 19, Ch. 101, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 70, Ch. 242, L. 2011.
MT Code § 13-19-310 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 3. Election Procedure|13-19-310. Repealed

  13-19-310. Repealed. Sec. 22, Ch. 101, L. 2011.   History: En. Sec. 22, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 85, Ch. 56, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 45, Ch. 297, L. 2009.
MT Code § 13-19-311 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 13. Elections|Chapter 19. Mail Ballot Elections|Part 3. Election Procedure|13-19-311. Repealed

  13-19-311. Repealed. Sec. 22, Ch. 101, L. 2011.   History: En. Sec. 24, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 21, Ch. 591, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 338, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 46, Ch. 297, L. 2009.