Montana Code 13-10-302. Write-in votes for previously nominated candidates
13-10-302. Write-in votes for previously nominated candidates. (1) Subject to subsection (2), if an elector casts a write-in vote for a candidate on a primary party ballot when the candidate’s name also appears or is written in for the same office on another party’s ballot, the write-in vote counts only with respect to the party on whose ballot the write-in vote was cast and the write-in votes, if on multiple parties’ ballots, and the votes cast for the candidate on the other party’s ballots may not be added together.
Terms Used In Montana Code 13-10-302
- Ballot: means a paper ballot counted manually or a paper ballot counted by a machine, such as an optical scan system or other technology that automatically tabulates votes cast by processing the paper ballots. See Montana Code 13-1-101
- Candidate: means :
(a)an individual who has filed a declaration or petition for nomination, acceptance of nomination, or appointment as a candidate for public office as required by law;
(b)for the purposes of chapter 35, 36, or 37, an individual who has solicited or received and retained contributions, made expenditures, or given consent to an individual, organization, political party, or committee to solicit or receive and retain contributions or make expenditures on the individual's behalf to secure nomination or election to any office at any time, whether or not the office for which the individual will seek nomination or election is known when the:
(i)solicitation is made;
(ii)contribution is received and retained; or
(iii)expenditure is made; or
(c)an officeholder who is the subject of a recall election. See Montana Code 13-1-101
- Elector: means an individual qualified to vote under state law. See Montana Code 13-1-101
(2)A write-in vote must be counted as provided in 13-15-206(5).