Two Montana bills to institute registration by party have been tabled. HB 248, by Rep. Ken Peterson (R-Billings) would have set up closed primaries, but it was tabled on January 28. SB 186, by Senator Joe Balyeat (R-Bozeman), which would have set up voluntary registration by party, was tabled on January 26.
Senator Balyeat also has SB 243, which would propose a constitutional amendment requiring that run-offs be held after any general election in which no one got at least 50% of the vote. The Senate State Administration heard the bill on January 28 and has not yet acted.
The Montana Legislature also tabled for now a bill ending same day voter registration. Registration by party failed because the bill wouldn’t have allowed Independents to vote. Why should my tax dollars go to a primary I can’t vote in?
Why should someone who steadfastly refuses to register with a party be allowed to participate in that party’s nominating process– unless that party invites him/her to do so?
In 1995, a federal appeals court said that, when the state requires parties to hold primaries, the state must pay the costs of those primaries (GOP v. Faulkner County, Arkansas).
Montana doesn’t require parties to hold primaries, but even the Republicans admitted that their presidential caucus was expensive on there budget and will go back to taxpayer sponsored primaries.
Montana doesn’t require parties to hold primaries for offices other than president?
In 1986, the US Supreme Court gave parties the right to invite independents to vote in their primaries.