Montana establishes 5 election offices on tribal land

HELENA, Mont. (AP) – Five new election offices are set to open on tribal lands across Montana in advance of this year’s elections.

The satellite election offices are a result of a directive issued last fall by the secretary of state to widen access to the ballot box among Native Americans under the federal Voting Rights Act.

Two of those offices will open in Big Horn County, and one each in Roosevelt, Glacier and Rosebud counties.

Secretary of State Linda McCulloch says six other counties are currently in talks with tribal governments to open additional offices.

McCulloch directed counties to open discussions with tribal leaders last fall, following a 2012 settlement of a lawsuit brought under federal law. The offices are meant to improve convenience on Election Day and increase access to early voting.