State lawmakers on a special Senate committee reviewed potential election security measures that could impact the 2025 Montana Legislature, suggesting new legal and financial burdens for county election officials. Proposed bill drafts would require statewide camera installations in county election offices to monitor vote-counting activities, a move driven by concerns over election integrity.
The first draft bill mandates camera systems in all counties, including rural areas like Yellowstone and Lewis and Clark, where such systems are currently absent, as reported by the Montana Association of Counties. These systems would need registration with the Montana secretary of state’s office, video retention for 22 months post-election, and public testing before elections. The push for enhanced monitoring follows demands from Republican lawmakers and activists skeptical of Montana’s election procedures.
Previously, former state Rep. Brad Tschida, as part of an investigation into alleged election discrepancies in Missoula County, sought video records from the 2020 general election. Despite a lawsuit against the county for not providing footage, a district court judge ruled against Tschida, citing existing retention laws that permitted deletion. Sen. Theresa Manzella of Hamilton, who formed an “ad hoc election integrity committee” with Tschida, supports the proposed camera requirement, emphasizing its importance in maintaining election transparency.
County election officials and legislative staff cited budgetary concerns over this mandate. Lincoln County Election Administrator Melanie Howell reported spending $6,600 on cameras, while Ravalli County Clerk Regina Plettenberg noted a $50,000 investment across various activities. The draft did not offer state funding for the required equipment and storage. Despite recognizing the proposal as an unfunded mandate, the committee decided against advancing it to the Legislature but expressed interest in revisiting the topic, possibly as an incentive for counties.
The committee approved other recommendations to address issues highlighted by a court-ordered recount in Butte-Silver Bow County, establishing it with Republican Senate leaders. These include forming a working group of state and county officials for a standardized election results spreadsheet and updating the statewide election handbook. A draft bill directing counties to investigate election discrepancies until resolved will proceed to the 2025 Legislature. Manzella stressed the importance of fair, transparent elections, likening it to fundamental freedoms.
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