The Montana Native American Voting Rights Act (MT-NAVRA) ensures that Native American communities have equitable access to voting infrastructure, addressing long standing disparities in election accessibility. By establishing permanent satellite election offices and enabling the use of nontraditional addresses, this bill empowers more eligible voters to have their voices heard. MT-NAVRA will
- Increase election accessibility on Indian reservations: MT-NAVRA mandates the establishment of at least one permanent satellite election office on each federally recognized reservation in consultation with county officials
- Recognize nontraditional addresses for voter registration: MT-NAVRA allows electors without traditional addresses, including those living on reservations or in rural areas, to use narrative descriptions or tribal government buildings to register and vote
- Ensure equal treatment for Tribal IDs: MT-NAVRA removes unnecessary restrictions on tribal IDs, ensuring they are accepted as valid voter identification without requiring an expiration date or residential address
- Expand ballot collection locations in Indian Country: MT-NAVRA requires at least one ballot deposit site in every town more than 13 miles away from a permanent satellite election office
- Strengthen Tribal authority over polling locations: MT-NAVRA ensures that Tribal governments, rather than counties, determine the locations of polling places within reservation boundaries
MT-NAVRA takes effect on January 1, 2026, allowing ample time for counties and tribes to implement these changes.
