Montana tribal nations move to join lawsuit challenging voter registration law

Four Montana tribal nations and Native advocacy group Western Native Voice filed a motion Tuesday to intervene in a lawsuit opposing a bill that limits when Montana residents can register to vote, according to the Daily Montanan. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Blackfeet Nation, Fort Belknap Indian Community, Northern Cheyenne Tribe and Western Native Voice argue the law disproportionately impacts Indigenous voters in rural areas. The motion supports a suit filed by the Montana Federation of Public Employees in Lewis and Clark County District Court. Montana Senate Bill 490 removes an important eight-hour election day registration window that Native voters rely on due to transportation, distance and mail challenges. The tribal groups are represented by the ACLU of Montana, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Native American Rights Fund.