A Montana district court has blocked a new state law that would have reduced Election Day voter registration hours, ruling that the measure likely violates the constitutional right to vote and disproportionately harms Indigenous voters living in rural reservation communities.
The ruling, issued Tuesday by the Montana First Judicial District Court in Lewis and Clark County, prevents Senate Bill 490 from taking effect. The law, passed during the 2025 Montana Legislative session, would have eliminated the final eight hours of Election Day voter registration access across the state.
Advocates for Native voting rights praised the decision, saying Election Day registration is especially important for tribal communities that often face long travel distances, limited transportation, and barriers to early registration.
“This ruling is particularly important to rural Tribal communities across Montana,” said Jacqueline De León, senior staff attorney with the Native American Rights Fund. “Many of whom rely on the ability to register and cast a ballot on Election Day. Being able to register on Election Day is critical to ensuring full Indigenous participation in Montana’s electoral process.”
Civil rights organizations argued that the state failed to justify the restrictions imposed by the legislation.
“The State of Montana could not provide a compelling government interest justifying this voter suppression law because there simply isn’t one,” said Alex Rate, deputy director and legal director at the ACLU of Montana. “Election Day voter registration is secure, it’s fair, and – with this ruling – it continues to be protected in Montana.”
Voting rights advocates also emphasized the broader constitutional implications of the case.
“Democracy works best when every eligible voter can participate freely,” said Theresa J. Lee, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Voting Rights Project. “Attempts to restrict access to Election Day registration disproportionately burden Native communities and undermine the promise of equal access to the ballot. This decision is a powerful reminder that the right to vote is not a privilege — it is a constitutional guarantee that belongs to all of us.”
This suit was brought by the ACLU of Montana, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Native American Rights Fund. Click here to learn more.
