Montana § 13-10-211 - Declaration Of Intent For Write-In Candidates

§ 13-10-211. Declaration Of Intent For Write-In Candidates

Declaration of intent for write-in candidates. (1) Except as provided in 13-1-403 (2)(b), 13-1-502 (3)(b), and subsection (2) of this section, a person seeking to become a write-in candidate for an office in any election shall file a declaration of intent. Except for a candidate under 13-38-201 (4) or a candidate covered under 7-1-205 , a candidate may not file for more than one public office. The declaration of intent must be filed with the secretary of state or election administrator, depending on where a declaration of nomination for the desired office is required to be filed under 13-10-201 , or with the school district clerk for a school district office. When a county election administrator is conducting the election for a school district, the school district clerk or school district office that receives the declaration of intent shall notify the county election administrator of the filing. Except as provided in 13-1-403 , 13-1-503 , 20-3-305 , and subsection (3) of this section, the declaration must be filed no later than 5 p.m. on the 90th day before the election and must contain: (a) the candidate's name, including: (i) the candidate's first and last names; (ii) the candidate's initials, if any, used instead of a first name, or first and middle name, and the candidate's last name; (iii) the candidate's nickname, if any, used instead of a first name, and the candidate's last name; and (iv) a derivative or diminutive name, if any, used instead of a first name, and the candidate's last name; (b) the candidate's mailing address; (c) a statement declaring the candidate's intention to be a write-in candidate; (d) the title of the office sought; (e) the date of the election; (f) the date of the declaration; and (g) the candidate's signature. (2) An unsuccessful candidate for office at a primary election may not seek nomination by write-in vote or petition for the same office at the general election. (3) A declaration of intent may be filed after the deadline provided for in subsection (1) but no later than 5 p.m. on the day before the election if, after the deadline prescribed in subsection (1), a candidate for the office that the write-in candidate is seeking dies or is charged with a felony offense and if the election has not been canceled as provided by law. (4) The secretary of state shall notify each election administrator of the names of write-in candidates who have filed a declaration of intent with the secretary of state. Each election administrator shall notify the election judges in the county or district of the names of write-in candidates who have filed a declaration of intent. (5) A properly completed and signed declaration of intent may be provided to the election administrator or secretary of state: (a) by facsimile transmission; (b) in person; (c) by mail; or (d) by electronic mail. (6) A declaration is not valid until the filing fee required pursuant to 13-10-202 is received by the secretary of state or the election administrator. (7) A write-in candidate who files a declaration of intent for a general election may not file with a partisan, nonpartisan, or independent designation.