Mont. Code Ann. § 13-17-103
Required specifications for voting systems
En. Sec. 143, Ch. 368, L. 1969; R.C.M. 1947, 23-3802(1), (3); amd. Sec. 196, Ch. 571, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 33, Ch. 370, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 65, Ch. 414, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 275, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 286, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 27, Ch. 273, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 28, Ch. 297, L. 2009.
(1) A voting system may not be approved under 13-17-101 unless the voting system:
- (a) allows an elector to vote in secrecy;
- (b) prevents an elector from voting for any candidate or on any ballot issue more than once;
- (c) prevents an elector from voting on any office or ballot issue for which the elector is not entitled to vote;
- (d) allows an elector to vote only for the candidates of the party selected by the elector in the primary election;
- (e) allows an elector to vote a split ticket in a general election if the elector desires;
- (f) allows each valid vote cast to be registered and recorded within the performance standards adopted pursuant to subsection (2);
- (g) is protected from tampering for a fraudulent purpose;
- (h) prevents an individual from seeing or knowing the number of votes registered for any candidate or on any ballot issue during the progress of voting;
- (i) allows write-in voting;
- (j) will, if purchased by a jurisdiction within the state, be provided with a guarantee that the training and technical assistance will be provided to election officials under the contract for purchase of the voting system;
- (k) uses a paper ballot that allows votes to be manually counted; and
- (l) allows auditors to access and monitor any software program while it is running on the system to determine whether the software is running properly.
- (2) To implement the provisions of subsection (1)(f), the secretary of state shall adopt rules setting a benchmark performance standard that must be met in tests by each voting system prior to approval under 13-17-101. The standard must be based on commonly accepted industry standards for readily available technologies.
History: En. Sec. 143, Ch. 368, L. 1969; R.C.M. 1947, 23-3802(1), (3); amd. Sec. 196, Ch. 571, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 33, Ch. 370, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 65, Ch. 414, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 275, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 286, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 27, Ch. 273, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 28, Ch. 297, L. 2009.