A district court judge in Yellowstone County has temporarily blocked four new state laws regulating voting and elections in Montana.
The order was granted as part of a lawsuit filed against the Secretary of State by the Montana Democratic Party, advocates for Tribes and three political organizations for youth.
The judge’s block means four new laws can’t be enforced while the suit continues to play out in court. The new laws in question limit voter identification acceptable at the polls, restrict ballot drop-offs and eliminate same-day voter registration.
In a statement, Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen said she will immediately appeal the decision.
Montana’s next election for the midterm primaries is on June 7.
More than 12% of mail ballots were rejected for the primary. That's a far higher rejection rate than in previous contests.