The ACLU of Montana, the ACLU, and the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) filed a motion for preliminary injunction in the Western Native Voice v. Jacobsen lawsuit. The motion asks the Yellowstone County District Court to block HB 176 and HB 530 from being enforced until the case is decided. HB 176 and HB 530 are voter suppression laws that restrict ballot collection and prevent same-day voter registration.
“These laws were enacted to make it harder or impossible for Indigenous voters to cast a ballot. The vast size of Montana creates barriers to voting for the many that live in remote locations, including voters in Montana’s rural reservations. Montana legislators should be working to broaden access to the polls for all Montanans, including Indigenous voters,” said Caitlin Borgmann the ACLU of Montana Executive Director.
“HB 176 and HB 530 were designed and implemented with the specific purpose of disenfranchising Indigenous and rural voters. The Montana constitution cannot permit the exclusion of a segment of the voting public from the franchise,” said Alex Rate ACLU of Montana Legal Director.