Montana’s November general election is already under way, and county officials are urging voters to continue including their birthdate on mail‑in ballot envelopes. A recent court decision struck down the statutory requirement to list the year of birth, but Missoula County Elections Administrator Bradley Seaman cautions that keeping the information on the envelope is a simple safeguard.
Court ruling removes birthdate mandate
The Montana Supreme Court ruled that the law requiring voters to write their year of birth – and a signature – on the security envelope for mail‑in ballots is no longer enforceable. The decision came as county election officers were preparing to mail out ballots for the upcoming election.
County officials recommend a “better safe than sorry” approach
Seaman explained, “Well, as we were preparing those ballots and getting them out, there were a lot of different executive orders and court discussions. It was nice to see that for voters, the decision is positive – you’re going to vote the same way you’re used to.” He added that the Secretary of State’s office advises voters to include the birthdate “just in case” the legal landscape changes again.
“Right now you’re not required to put your year of birth, but we’re taking a better‑safe‑than‑sorry approach,” Seaman said. “If you write it, it won’t exclude your ballot. We’re not checking it, but if the law changes again, you’ll be covered. Any voter whose ballot is rejected is always contacted by our office.”
Potential reduction in rejected ballots
When the birthdate requirement was in place, as many as 6,500 ballots were rejected statewide. Seaman expressed optimism that removing the requirement will lower that number: “By removing a reason to reject ballots, hopefully this lowers those numbers.”
Where to find more voting information
Montana voters can visit VoteMT.Gov for answers to common questions about registration, ballot status, and how to contact their local elections office.
While the legal requirement has been lifted, the practical advice from Missoula County remains clear: include your birthdate on the envelope to avoid any future complications and ensure your vote is counted without delay.
Original reporting: NewsTalk KGVO 1290 (Townsquare) — read the source article.
