
Western Native Voice v. Jacobsen
What's at Stake
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Montana, and Native American Rights Fund (NARF) challenged two new Montana laws that hinder Native American participation in the state’s electoral process.
Summary
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Montana, and Native American Rights Fund (NARF) challenged two new Montana laws that hinder Native American participation in the state’s electoral process.
The first, HB 176, ends same-day registration, which reservation voters have relied upon to cast votes in Montana since 2005. The second, HB 530, blocks organized ballot collection on rural reservations. Just last year, a Montana court struck down a similar measure after listening to “cold, hard data” on its detrimental impact on the Native vote.
This new lawsuit against HB 176 and HB 530 was brought on behalf of Western Native Voice and Montana Native Vote, Native American-led organizations focused on getting out the vote and increasing civic participation in the Native American community; and the Blackfeet Nation, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, Fort Belknap Indian Community, and Northern Cheyenne Tribe.
Legal Documents
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05/17/2021
COMPLAINT - Western Native Voice v. Jacobsen
Date Filed: 05/17/2021
Download Document-
04/06/2022
PI ORDER - WESTERN NATIVE VOICE v. JACOBSEN
Date Filed: 04/06/2022
Download DocumentPress Releases
Montana Supreme Court Affirms Preliminary Injunction Against Law That Restricts Native American Voting Rights
Court Blocks Montana Laws That Restrict Native American Voting Rights
Tribes Challenge New Montana Laws That Restrict Voting Rights