US Supreme Court will not intervene in case over Montana election law

The U.S. Supreme Court this week declined to weigh in on a pair of state election laws. declared unconstitutional by the Montana Supreme Court early last year.

Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen had asked the high court to intervene. The laws sought to prohibit same-day voter registration and paid absentee ballot collection.

Jacobsen Lawyers argument The federal Supreme Court should review whether or not state courts have authority over election rules passed by their legislatures. But federal judges chose not to take up the case.

The advocacy group Western Native Voice in a statement welcomed the decision and said it protects Montanans’ access to voting.

Lawyers from the state justice department represented Jacobsen in the case. A spokesperson told MTPR they are “disappointed” by the court’s decision.