January 19, 2011

CONTACT INFORMATION: Terri McCoy, (406) 444-2807

McCulloch: Montanans Have 42,905 Reasons to Support Late Voter Registration;
Asks Legislature to Oppose HB180

HELENA, MT – Secretary of State Linda McCulloch on Thursday asked the Legislature to reject a measure that eliminates late and Election Day registration, adding that HB180 runs counter to the core freedoms of this country.

“Liberty, democracy and the right to vote are principles that should never be infringed upon by bureaucracy and government imposed timelines,” McCulloch testified in the House State Administration Committee. “As Montanans, I hope that’s something you can agree upon.”

42,905 Montanans have used late voter registration to vote in a statewide election, since the law was implemented in 2006. 18,747 of those Montanans registered and voted on Election Day.

“These are real people,” McCulloch said. “How can you support a bill that will strip away someone’s right to vote?”

Late Voter Registration by House District can be found on the Secretary of State’s website at: sos.mt.gov/LateRegistrantsbyHouseDistrict.pdf