Donald Trump may be responsible for The Big Lie – that Trump really won the 2016 presidential election but it was stolen from him by Democrats, Republican secretaries of state, Hillary Clinton, poll workers, election officials, Barack Obama, a vote tabulating machine company, Italy, and the long-dead former president of Venezuela – but the GOP is responsible for their continuation of those lies through voter suppression bills couched as “protecting” democracy.
🚨BREAKING: In sweeping ruling, Montana court STRIKES DOWN all 3 voter GOP suppression laws–a ban Election Day registration, limiting ballot collection and student ID to vote. A big win for @MTDems and the voters of Montana. Proud of @EliasLawGroup team.https://t.co/BCGQ2kqKOm
— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) September 30, 2022
In Montana, this included bills attempting to ban same-day voter registration, the use of student IDs as voter IDs, and certain types of ballot assistance. While the party has attempted to prevent measures more commonly used by blue voters to access the polls, Democracy Docket, led by voting rights attorney Marc Elias, reports that they have once again emerged victorious in the fight to protect democracy.
According to Democracy Docket:
‘House Bill 176 eliminates Election Day voter registration; Senate Bill 169 narrows eligible voter IDs, particularly limiting the use of student IDs; and House Bill 530 bans certain types of ballot assistance…on Sept. 30, the trial court permanently blocked H.B. 176, S.B. 169 and H.B. 530.’
As election attorneys continue to fight against these bills, a preliminary injunction pausing them has now been made permanent while the case continues to play out in court. As the midterms loom, this is one less attempt at voter suppression that will be allowed to remain in place during voting.
Twitter was grateful to Elias and his team of democracy defenders. Read some of their comments below:
