As Montana Voters Head to the Polls, Thousands Remain Locked Out of the Ballot
As Montanans prepare to make their voices heard in tomorrow’s primary election, more than 5,000 residents remain barred from voting under the state’s felony disenfranchisement law.
Related to: Voting Rights, State Advocacy
[Washington, D.C.]– As Montanans prepare to make their voices heard in tomorrow’s primary election, more than 5,000 residents remain barred from voting under the state’s felony disenfranchisement law, which prohibits individuals incarcerated for a felony conviction from casting a ballot.
As voters head to the polls, advocates are pointing to a broader concern: the gap between Montana’s law on paper and how it is applied in practice. Without clear definitions, accurate voter education, and consistent implementation, eligible voters risk being excluded from the democratic process.
Under Montana law, individuals with felony convictions lose the right to vote only while incarcerated for a felony conviction and regain it immediately upon release. But advocates caution that the reality on the ground is often more restrictive. Because state law does not clearly define what constitutes a “penal institution,” eligible voters are sometimes misclassified and denied access to the ballot.
“In Montana, people are not just locked out of the ballot while they’re incarcerated—too often, they’re locked out even after they come home,” said Nicole Gomez, Justice Initiative Director at Catalyst Montana. “We regularly see eligible voters turned away or discouraged from voting because of misinformation about their rights, especially those living in pre-release programs, treatment facilities, or other supervised settings.”
“Montana’s law restores voting rights upon release from incarceration, but gaps in implementation continue to keep eligible voters from the ballot,” said Ali Lacayo, Social Services Advocate at Montana Innocence Project. “Ensuring consistent guidance for election officials and correctional staff are essential to prevent wrongful disenfranchisement and protect access to the vote.”
“Felony disenfranchisement continues to silence thousands of Montanans, even though the state has taken steps to limit its scope,” said Nicole D. Porter, Senior Director of Advocacy at The Sentencing Project. “These laws disproportionately exclude people at a critical moment when decisions are being made about their communities, their families, and their futures.”
About The Sentencing Project
The Sentencing Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing incarceration and addressing racial disparities in the criminal legal system. For over 35 years, the organization has advocated for effective policies that promote a more just and equitable society.
About Catalyst Montana
Catalyst Montana uplifts low-income and marginalized Montanans through community organizing, policy advocacy, research, and leadership development. We work to build collective power and create meaningful change on issues that impact our communities.
