Montana § 7-7-105 - Challenges To Local Government Bond Elections

§ 7-7-105. Challenges To Local Government Bond Elections

Challenges to local government bond elections. (1) No action may be brought for the purpose of restraining the issuance and sale of bonds or other obligations by any county, city, town, or political subdivision of the state or for the purpose of restraining the levy and collection of taxes for the payment of such bonds or other obligations after the expiration of 60 days from the date of the election on such bonds or obligations or, if no election was held thereon, after the expiration of 60 days from the date of the order, resolution, or ordinance authorizing the issuance thereof, on account of any defect, irregularity, or informality in giving notice of or in holding the election. No defense based upon any such defect, irregularity, or informality may be interposed in any action unless brought within this period. This subsection applies but is not limited to any action and defense in which the issue is raised whether a voted debt or liability has carried by the required majority vote of the electors qualified and offering to vote thereon. (2) (a) Any elector qualified to vote in a bond election of a county, a city, or any political subdivision of either may contest a bond election for any of the following causes: (i) that the precinct board, in conducting the election or in canvassing the returns, made errors sufficient to change the result of the election; (ii) that any official charged with a duty under the election laws failed to perform that duty; (iii) that in conducting the election, any official charged with a duty under the election laws violated any of the provisions of Title 13 relating to bond elections; (iv) that electors qualified to vote in the election under the provisions of the constitutions of Montana and the United States were not given opportunity to vote in the election; (v) that electors not qualified to vote in the election under the provisions of the constitutions of Montana and the United States were permitted to vote in the election. (b) Within 60 days after the election, the contestant shall file a verified petition with the clerk of the court in the judicial district where the election was held. (3) The word "action", as used in this section, is to be construed, whenever it is necessary to do so, as including a special proceeding of a civil nature.