[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6394264,"mediaKeyId","2103642-cdb9d1656896f180f0dd0b6364c9d4ef","parentId",2103642,"title","Montana Secretary of State Jacobson highlights business filings, election training and limits of investigatory authority","audioSeconds",246,"startMs",332000,"endMs",578000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2103642-cdb9d1656896f180f0dd0b6364c9d4ef&start=332&end=578","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2103642-cdb9d1656896f180f0dd0b6364c9d4ef/thumbnail_332000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6394264/Montana/Montana-Secretary-of-State-Jacobson-highlights-business-filings-election-training-and-limits-of-investigatory-authority","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394264-0e013b3ed93548605d66b8e69219b80c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175266&Signature=bcmpCIoqw95ndX3a9kYzjeW9tCa6~7-jrWljOBAqgX~W2U4taghYgk2VwzXc7b9QJOVkA9do2y1CA3qKtoeAQCg9JvtzrFf2AF~wpMgmlXyQk6QTZ1G6xhQrW5b5KgyYOO5Zkvpu5~TGxoTCEu4iNDJWiwde4YVfxYznZ90IHBEdYox4BA8uHocTgHCk6X-ENwdVT6frVlbJZbAU3D0jotiab0eKZUXhpAY4ZFoECjmsawFpZOFIpy7Uj0iV2itzAcs4oEZYNv2T-XnK-lsF2kGTwjX5IMcgrg7yLkMvWZ6obZhzL42Ja-zyFdJTD7xBolQ-OnG11PErIa68-rFxrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Montana","date","2025-01-08T00:00:00Z","article","Secretary of State Christy Jacobson told the Senate State Administration and Veterans Affairs Committee on Feb. 10 that her office handled a record number of business filings and ran a successful 2024 election year while expanding outreach and security training for counties.

Jacobson said the office now lists about 321,000 businesses in Montana and that the state saw record new business formations—about 60,000 in 2023 and about 64,000 in 2024. She said the office waived annual filing fees for roughly 320,000 businesses in 2024 and again for 2025, and that staff reductions and workflow changes were intended to make filings easier.

The update matters because the Secretary of State’s office administers statewide elections and maintains the statewide business and administrative records that many legislators use for policy and constituent services. Jacobson said the office expanded post‑election audit authority under recent law, coordinated third‑party security assessments across all 56 counties and launched a voter outreach and county training video series to improve county election administration.

Jacobson introduced senior staff who she said led those efforts: Deputy Secretary Angela Nunn, Chief Legal Counsel Austin James, attorneys Clay Leland and others, Chief People Officer Julie Lake, operations manager Lisa Reeblinger, office manager Susan Ames, communications director Richie Melby and senior advisor Keith Regier. She credited the team for implementing a new election system and for outreach projects that included recruiting more than 500 veterans to serve as poll workers and conducting a youth vote program required by Montana statute.

Committee members pressed Jacobson on the office’s investigative authority. Jacobson said the Secretary of State’s office does not have authority to conduct criminal investigations into alleged election crimes; instead, she said, complaints are referred to the Commissioner of Political Practices, local law enforcement or the Attorney General’s Office depending on the nature of the allegation. She told the committee the office does, however, have responsibilities to verify registrants and to validate information that enters the election system prior to certification.

Senator Vance asked Jacobson to provide the committee an organizational chart with directors’ names and contact information; Jacobson agreed to provide that information and, at another senator’s request, to include staff photographs on the chart. Jacobson also confirmed that the office will provide the committee with the county security assessment summaries and other materials cited during her remarks.

Less critical details: Jacobson said the office certified the 2024 general election, held the electoral college meeting in December in the old Supreme Court chamber, and reported 450 candidates filed with the office for the most recent election cycle. She thanked county election officials for completing third‑party security assessments and said the office is addressing issues counties flagged in those reviews.

The committee did not take formal action on the presentation; members directed staff to accept Jacobson’s materials into the committee record and requested the org chart and presentation slides for distribution to members.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate State Administration Jan 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Secretary of State Christy Jacobson told the Senate State Administration and Veterans Affairs Committee on Feb. 10 that her office handled a record number of business filings and ran a successful 2024 election year while expanding outreach and security training for counties.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MT, Montana","taxId",77694,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6394245,"Commissioner of Political Practices reviews office functions, filings and compliance activity",801,6275000,7076000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2103642-cdb9d1656896f180f0dd0b6364c9d4ef&start=6275&end=7076","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2103642-cdb9d1656896f180f0dd0b6364c9d4ef/thumbnail_6275000.jpg","/articles/6394245/Montana/Commissioner-of-Political-Practices-reviews-office-functions-filings-and-compliance-activity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394245-9b372680a705449a030eeabdbfd5ca7f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175266&Signature=i2hedsPQFhnbCeBP7wJBuuhmm5NtJr4A6qCb-FWaX3iAAEM5j0mIKKwmShmOI4y8V2D5MRHdfNaMC2lxyJwblQX5rt9ou0d9Yl4w7OItGPoZEx8b345JSsg54zeB7~2sPLCjzzRvRcl45z8I~nfhAqf0aNDDMqOJa00LQ7S1F7PgBmQadfTwEDC~08YIizSt1dKDX4JLk83r6ZtH8qCchelA04-1kmgj522xi4SFSC7WAapzGnKAceMDaiU0IBvdT9mOyY0rzAuTRpfjJxmV~UVoikwLOgb25TyKiUkZR0zZU8J6PuDAGDLDBNz99uIXscoQLNTCbVLzGyFcaG4byw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chris Gallus, Commissioner of Political Practices, briefed the Senate committee on the office’s statutory responsibilities, staffing, recent activity and enforcement process.

Gallus described the office’s principal roles as (1) assisting candidates, committees and lobbyists with filing and compliance and (2) enforcing Montana’s campaign finance, lobbying and ethics laws. He told the committee the office was created in 1975, enforces campaign finance and disclosure statutes in Title 13 (campaign finance, lobbying) and ethics statutes in Title 2, and that enforcement can lead to civil actions in district court where required.

Gallus reported operational figures: about 780 candidates and roughly 436 committees filed reports in the recent cycle; lobbying registration in the 2023 session reached about 374 registered lobbyists representing 514 principals, with the number of registered lobbyists at the time of the hearing at about 173 and about 574 principals filing reports. He said the office has seven staff, is funded through the state’s HB 2 appropriation (approximately $1.6–$1.7 million most recently), and does not retain penalty revenue (fines go to the general fund).

On enforcement, Gallus said most matters arrive as notarized written complaints; the office conducts investigations, requests responses and issues sufficiency or insufficiency findings. He said the agency handles many compliance matters informally and focuses on training: the office expanded candidate and treasurer training across cities including Billings, Missoula, Bozeman, Great Falls, Whitefish, Kalispell and Butte, and offers remote sessions. He reported roughly 80 formal complaints during the last election cycle and “over a dozen” orders of noncompliance resulting from inspections and filings reviews.

Gallus noted the agency’s limited role in defending statutes once challenged: the Attorney General typically handles constitutional defense, and the Commissioner’s office coordinates with the AG’s Office where injunctions or litigation are pending. He also mentioned topics the office expects to follow during the session: residency and qualification rules for candidates, potential clarifications on lobbying thresholds and notice procedures, and monitoring of issues tied to artificial intelligence and campaign communications.

Gallus introduced staff members who assist the office’s work and training programs: Sheryl Wilson (campaign finance inspections and training) and Shelly Hendrickson Scott (agency attorney). Committee members thanked the office for outreach and training; Gallus said the agency will provide the committee’s required biennial report and respond to questions as bills are drafted.","Chris Gallus, Commissioner of Political Practices, told the Senate committee on Feb. 10 that his office focuses on assisting filers and enforcing Montana’s campaign finance, lobbying and ethics laws, and that it expanded training and field outreach during the most recent election cycle.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6394251,"Experts urge Montana to tighten UOCAVA rules: require citizenship proof, separate military/non‑military rules, limit electronic ballot return",1697,4178000,5875000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2103642-cdb9d1656896f180f0dd0b6364c9d4ef&start=4178&end=5875","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2103642-cdb9d1656896f180f0dd0b6364c9d4ef/thumbnail_4178000.jpg","/articles/6394251/Montana/Experts-urge-Montana-to-tighten-UOCAVA-rules-require-citizenship-proof-separate-militarynonmilitary-rules-limit-electronic-ballot-return","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394251-452512e3e5a4ad1db13d8eb496488302/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175266&Signature=HGiZtSMrsLZTtmYYyWUI5dJ2G~jWdIOPwMXiUXu~fsC4Pvk1lfEJBZMZL0Ec50L~VzJP0YQtvG2u9FsWkYbOIYjtEttSnRxerzv1K2J2~8PY4CLh~kIV5ttUrMijbHTanNaEPzO0GgHTbcxvdbaiEhAFNGqcGwK6Brpp9brk84N-H14ZnVuk9KEJF2P7FLd0O-CW7P0S9PhDAslvgeXvh33MkVDBl9VXViqxoMsqpd2eJzAjrzMjiNfCwhIaGtv3e76jjiWIW~N11VUbKws9MzPLP2cvfIdWdFcY4tL14qmRDKz6gR4BhokchURNFXT3D6MxR89fnBsbVx1Bw-rcgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Heather Honey, an expert on overseas absentee voting, told the Senate State Administration and Veterans Affairs Committee that UOCAVA (the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) obligates states to accept the federal postcard application but leaves the states discretion on many policy details such as residency rules, identification requirements and ballot return methods.

Honey explained that the MOVE Act amendment requires states to transmit ballots to overseas applicants 45 days before an election if the application arrives in time, and that UOCAVA covers both military voters and a growing number of non‑military U.S. citizens living abroad. She said non‑military applicants have comprised about 65% of UOCAVA ballots in the 2022 data and that many overseas applicants request electronic transmission of ballots.

Honey recommended several legislative options Montana could adopt to tighten safeguards: separate statutory processes and deadlines for military and non‑military overseas voters; require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for UOCAVA applicants (for example, a U.S. passport or certificate of citizenship); require verification of prior in‑state residency for those who never resided in the U.S.; require proof of current overseas status for permanent or indefinite overseas applicants; use provisional absentee ballots when verification is pending; and limit electronic return of voted ballots except where a voter has no practicable alternative, citing multi‑agency guidance from the EAC, FBI and CISA that electronically returned ballots pose higher security risk.

Committee members asked procedural and evidence questions. Senator Phelan asked how electronically transmitted ballots are handled; Honey described the common practice of recreating or duplicating emailed/printed UOCAVA ballots onto an official tabulatable ballot under bipartisan controls. Senator Vance and others requested copies of Honey’s slides; staff agreed to add the presentation to the committee record and circulate it to members.

Honey offered to provide model statutory language and examples from states with elements she described as useful (Arizona, Ohio and Georgia). She also suggested that training for local election officials on UOCAVA rules and procedures would improve consistent application of requirements across counties.

The committee took no formal vote but directed staff to collect the presenter’s materials for the record and consider Honey’s suggested statutory clarifications as part of the session’s bill drafting process.","Heather Honey briefed the committee on the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and urged statutory changes including documentary proof of citizenship for overseas applicants, separation of military and non‑military rules, clearer deadlines and limiting electronic ballot return except where no alternative exists.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6394257,"Outside audit group says Montana voter rolls show thousands of anomalous records; group asks state to review",1111,1397000,2508000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2103642-cdb9d1656896f180f0dd0b6364c9d4ef&start=1397&end=2508","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2103642-cdb9d1656896f180f0dd0b6364c9d4ef/thumbnail_1397000.jpg","/articles/6394257/Montana/Outside-audit-group-says-Montana-voter-rolls-show-thousands-of-anomalous-records-group-asks-state-to-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394257-46d0ba87746b5fc14b12c35e9cdad6da/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175266&Signature=F0WiF358rnaB0ApQVa3OZuxs-RyoqlMYw22rSXxacM0XJx-cN06zQQoJL7aepeivbH7y7zZ1ZYIl-u9WzDWZO2T2pqKHsX~IFfT-UuLkY2YBJmqksvLWEcRfMDHW8A6socQcRERIWQOvL3jpvqDOB-Jsl9ru30VTALfbXx0zmlsqOdeX6PIFbXp6MeoDm9eTIX0udpRjUNlzqUy14Jhz~hJShIdAiMr-Y-Wn-MLZT3pmVCoJ3YY4vc85JGYcnEPUPrixG04SxavTabp5JLN-qED5JqV00pQ9ZfPxgkeksgSnJMJZx75y4mhbkHZMQ1cBq9SFrFF369Lvofs-z2JZ6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marley Hornick, a founder of the volunteer group United Sovereign Americans (USA), told the Senate State Administration and Veterans Affairs Committee that her organization’s analysis of Montana’s statewide voter registration list found a large number of records that do not appear to meet statutory or federal standards and that a portion of those records were counted in certified election totals.

Hornick said USA’s review—based on state registration lists obtained under public records law and peer‑reviewed internal queries—identified what the group described as 105,137 apparent registration violations in Montana around the 2022 midterm cycle. Hornick provided category totals the group reported to the Secretary of State: 375 apparent duplicate registrations; 1,095 votes added after certification; 705 records with altered birth dates; 9,225 records with implausible ages (either older than feasible or underage); 711 registrants marked as deceased; and roughly 70,000 records that the group described as “backdated” registrations. She said the group counted 72,571 instances where a registration with one or more disqualifying indicators was allowed to vote, affecting 66,625 unique votes.

Hornick said United Sovereign Americans is a volunteer organization formed in 2023 and that its analytics are peer reviewed by experienced data and cybersecurity professionals led by Harry Howery. She said USA has delivered the underlying record lists and line‑by‑line reports to state officials and to federal law enforcement (Department of Justice and FBI) and asked the Secretary of State’s office for a line‑by‑line explanation of causes for the anomalies.

Committee members pressed Hornick on methods and provenance. Hornick said the group used SQL queries against official statewide registration lists that states provided; she said the group supplied full extracts for every claimed anomalous record and that its volunteers are credentialed professionals whose work is peer reviewed. Senator Ellis asked when USA was formed; Hornick said June 2023 and said pending lawsuits had been filed in nine states as of the presentation.

Secretary Jacobson confirmed the group obtained underlying data from the Secretary’s office and that the office had received USA’s report. Jacobson and committee members discussed how some errors could reflect clerical or procedural issues and said the office would review the reported records; Jacobson also reminded the committee that the Secretary of State’s office lacks criminal investigatory authority and that referrals should be made to the proper agencies if warranted.

Hornick offered to cooperate with Montana officials on any follow‑up review and urged legislators to consider a formal, state‑led data reconciliation. She said USA seeks state partners willing to investigate why the anomalies appear and to produce explanations that either resolve the findings or identify deeper problems.

The committee did not vote or adopt any directive during the hearing; members asked staff to accept the USA report and materials into the committee record and to coordinate with the Secretary of State’s office on any requested clarifications.","United Sovereign Americans presented analysis claiming tens of thousands of apparent registration irregularities in Montana's voter rolls, supplied a report to the Secretary of State and asked the committee to consider a joint review; the Secretary of State and committee members acknowledged the receipt and requested follow‑up.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Montana Secretary of State Jacobson highlights business filings, election training and limits of investigatory authority

Commissioner of Political Practices reviews office functions, filings and compliance activity

Experts urge Montana to tighten UOCAVA rules: require citizenship proof, separate military/non‑military rules, limit electronic ballot return

Outside audit group says Montana voter rolls show thousands of anomalous records; group asks state to review