The Montana Department of Administration revealed that 467,000 postcards featuring Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and President Donald Trump, sent to Montana households, cost $196,829 for production and mailing. Initially, the Secretary of State’s office did not disclose the details, but the information was provided after a formal public records request by MTFP.
The postcards, displaying a message in support of exclusive citizen voting rights, introduced a new election security program aimed at verifying voters’ immigration status. It emphasized that under Secretary Jacobsen’s leadership, non-citizen voting would be strictly prohibited.
Spokesperson Richie Melby explained the postcards celebrate a new tool from the federal SAVE program, which identified 23 potential non-citizen voters, a tiny fraction of Montana’s 784,949 registered voters. Critics, including Rep. Kelly Kortum, D-Bozeman, accused Jacobsen of fearmongering for political gain.
Susan Beley of Harlowton filed a complaint accusing Jacobsen of misusing state funds to support false claims about non-citizen voting. However, Commissioner Chris Gallus announced no investigation would occur due to insufficient evidence of legal violations.
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