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First, the Montana Republican Party challenged more than 6,000 legally registered voters without meeting the burden of proof. This intimidation tactic created a lot of consternation among voters and election officials until the GOP withdrew the challenges in the wake of widespread outrage and condemnation across Montana, as well as a lawsuit.

Now, former Republican Sen. Conrad Burns, chair of the McCain/Palin campaign in Montana, makes another unsubstantiated charge, complaining to Montana’s county election officials about “the abuse and mis-use of our liberal laws to get more people to participate in our system.” In an e-mail sent to counties throughout the state, Burns goes on to question efforts by county election officials to uphold election laws. These and other comments from Burns, as reported in news articles across the state this past week, suggest that he and others will continue to try to stop people from voting.

Burns has acknowledged he doesn’t like Election Day registration, an opportunity used by almost 4,000 voters in the 2006 general election. He then goes on to demean the process and provide totally inaccurate information about how people can register on Election Day by suggesting all they have to do is bring in a telephone bill. Nonsense.

Montana residents who want to register on Election Day must register just like everyone else n by confirming they meet Montana’s qualifications to vote and providing proof of identity. Once the information they provide is verified, the elector gets a ballot and can vote.

Federal and state law require purges of the election lists n removing people who no longer meet Montana’s requirements to vote n to be done by county election administrators at least 90 days before a federal election; in Montana, the purges are done in odd-numbered years. The purges are not done the month before the election, as the infamous GOP voter challenge would have done.

Burns’ comments are nothing more than a swipe at Montana’s election procedures that encourage democracy and voter participation.

Montanans deserve better than to become the next Florida. Candidates in Montana generally work hard to get elected, and Montana residents should be commended for registering and voting, whether by mail ballot or at the polls. Montana’s election laws help insure the integrity of the voting process and should not be abused by partisan operatives to restrict voting.

Jason Kiely serves as the co-chair for Montana Conservation Voters. He writes from Missoula.

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