Campaign 2012

Judge denies request to put satellite voting offices on Montana Reservations

Posted: Oct 31, 2012 7:22 AM by Victoria Fregoso - Q2 News
Updated: Oct 31, 2012 7:22 AM

Just a week before Election Day, U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull has denied a preliminary injunction that would have put satellite voting offices on Montana Indian Reservations.
During the second day of the hearing, the federal court and Judge Cebull learned how complicated it would be to set up satellite offices just a few days before Election Day.

Plaintiffs from the Northern Cheyenne, Fort Belknap and Crow reservations filed the lawsuit against Big Horn, Rosebud and Blaine Counties earlier this month. The lawsuit stated reservation residents have to drive long distances in order to vote early and for late registration, giving them less voting opportunities than those who live outside of the reservation.

Representatives from the three counties said they weren't given enough time to plan for satellite offices and it would be difficult to provide funding because their budgets have already been set.

The Blaine County Clerk and Recorder said there is too much room for error when it comes to getting voter identification and ballot numbers correct and confirming voter signatures.

Q2 spoke to one of the plaintiffs after today's hearing he said they plan on proceeding with a permanent injunction to put satellite voting offices on Montana's Reservations for future elections.