13-35-242. Political activity in public postsecondary institution residence hall, dining facility, or athletic facility -- prohibition -- exceptions -- penalty. (1) A political committee may not direct, coordinate, manage, or conduct any voter identification efforts, voter registration drives, signature collection efforts, ballot collection efforts, or voter turnout efforts for a federal, state, local, or school election inside a residence hall, dining facility, or athletic facility operated by a public postsecondary institution.
(2) Nothing in this section may be construed as prohibiting any communications made through mail, telephone, text messages, or electronic mail inside a residence hall, dining facility, or athletic facility or any political advertising made through radio, television, satellite, or internet service. Nothing in this section may be construed as prohibiting an individual from undertaking or participating in any activity for a federal, state, local, or school election if the activity is undertaken at the individual's exclusive initiative.
(3) A person who resides in a residence hall operated by a public postsecondary institution or who regularly uses a dining hall operated by public postsecondary institution, a candidate for office in a federal, state, local, or school election, or a political committee engaged in a federal, state, local, or school election may institute an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent, restrain, or enjoin a violation of this section.
(4) A political committee that violates this section is subject to a civil penalty of $1,000 for each violation. Each day of a continuing violation constitutes a separate offense.
(5) For the purposes of this section, "public postsecondary institution" means:
(a) a unit of the Montana university system as described in 20-25-201; or
(b) a Montana community college defined and organized as provided in 20-15-101.
History: En. Sec. 21, Ch. 494, L. 2021.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Chapter 35. Election and Campaign Practices and Criminal Provisions
13-35-201. Electors and ballots
13-35-202. Conduct of election officials and election judges
13-35-203. Interference with officials
13-35-204. Official misconduct
13-35-205. Tampering with election records and information
13-35-206. Injury to election equipment, materials, and records
13-35-207. Deceptive election practices
13-35-208. Deception of elector
13-35-209. Fraudulent registration
13-35-210. Limits on voting rights
13-35-211. Electioneering -- soliciting information from electors
13-35-213. Preventing public meetings of electors
13-35-214. Illegal influence of voters
13-35-215. Illegal consideration for voting
13-35-217. Officers not to influence voter
13-35-218. Coercion or undue influence of voters
13-35-220. Bribing members of political gatherings
13-35-221. Improper nominations
13-35-225. Election materials not to be anonymous -- notice -- penalty
13-35-226. Unlawful acts of employers and employees
13-35-227. Prohibited contributions from corporations and unions
13-35-228. Prohibition of salary increase contribution
13-35-231. Unlawful for political party to contribute to judicial candidate
13-35-235. Incorrect election procedures information
13-35-237. Disclaimer on election materials funded by anonymous contributors
13-35-238. and 13-35-239 reserved