On April 29, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed SB 350, which removes some restrictions on petitions for party recognition that were imposed by Montana state courts in 2018 and again in 2020. The new law says that people who want to withdraw their signature on a petition to recognize a new party must do so by the petition deadline. It clarifies that names of signers need not be an exact match with that voter’s registration name. And it says that the petition for a new party may be submitted by any individual, rather than someone who can prove he or she is an officer of the new party.

The bill does not remove two other older impediments, an unequal distribution requirement and a March petition deadline. The Green Party sued in 2018 over the unequal distribution requirement. That case is being argued in the Ninth Circuit on May 6. Montana Green Party v Jacobsen, 20-35340. The panel consists of Judges William Fletcher, Michelle Friedland, and Frederic Block.