Montana Code 13-4-203. Instruction of judges — training materials
13-4-203. Instruction of judges — training materials. (1) Before each election, all election judges must be instructed by the election administrator on current procedures as prescribed by the secretary of state. In precincts where voting systems are used, instructions must cover both how to operate the voting system and how to manually process any paper ballots.
Terms Used In Montana Code 13-4-203
- Election: means a general, special, or primary election held pursuant to the requirements of state law, regardless of the time or purpose. See Montana Code 13-1-101
- Election administrator: means , except as provided in subsection (14)(b), the county clerk and recorder or the individual designated by a county governing body to be responsible for all election administration duties, except that with regard to school elections not administered by the county, the term means the school district clerk. See Montana Code 13-1-101
- Election judge: means a person who is appointed pursuant to Title 13, chapter 4, part 1, to perform duties as specified by law. See Montana Code 13-1-101
- Individual: means a human being. See Montana Code 13-1-101
- primary election: means an election held on a date specified in 13-1-107 to nominate candidates for offices filled at a general election. See Montana Code 13-1-101
- Process: means a writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings. See Montana Code 1-1-202
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201
- system: means any machine, device, technology, or equipment used to automatically record, tabulate, or process the vote of an elector cast on a paper ballot. See Montana Code 13-1-101
(2)An election administrator may require a chief election judge to attend the training session before each election, as well as a special session that the election administrator may hold for chief election judges only, even if the chief election judge possesses a current certificate of completion pursuant to 13-1-203(5)(b).
(3)Any individual willing to be appointed as an election judge may attend an instruction session by registering with the election administrator. However, the individual may not be paid for attendance unless the individual is appointed as an election judge.
(4)Each election judge completing a training session under this section must be given a certificate of completion. An individual may not serve as an election judge without a current certificate. However, this requirement does not apply to individuals filling vacancies in emergencies.
(5)A certificate of completion is current if the certificate is obtained before the primary election in an even-numbered year.
(6)Notice of the place and time of instruction must be given by the election administrator to the presiding officers of the political parties in the county.