MFPE v. Jacobsen

(Filed: July 14, 2025)

In 2024, the Montana Supreme Court struck down four laws passed in 2021 that burdened young Montanans’ right to vote by changing Election Day registration guidelines and excluding student ID as a primary form of voter ID. The Court ruled that these laws violated the Montana Constitution. And yet, in 2025, the legislature enacted two new laws that again targeted Election Day registration and student IDs.

Senate Bill 490 (“SB 490”) cuts Election Day registration by eight hours. In most counties, Election Day is the only day when voters can register and vote after 5pm. SB 490 imposes a random middle-of-the-day registration deadline for voters. Senate Bill 276 (“SB 276”) limits the use of student identification for voting and gets rid of the reasonable impediment form—a critical safeguard for eligible voters who go to the polls without ID. The Montana Constitution vigorously protects Montanans’ right to suffrage. SB 490 and SB 276 unconstitutionally interfere with voters.

On July 14, 2025, Forward Montana and MontPIRG filed a lawsuit seeking to permanently enjoin these laws.