Montana Supreme Court allows voter registration referendum

HELENA (AP) — The Montana Supreme Court says a legislative referendum to end Election-Day voter registration can go on the 2014 ballot.

But the justices ruled in a 5-1 decision Wednesday the attorney general's office must first revise the ballot statement to clarify that the change is not required by the federal National Voter Registration Act.

Montana has allowed voters to register or change their registrations on Election Day since 2005. The referendum approved by the 2013 Republican-led Legislature for the November ballot would change the deadline to register to the Friday before an election.

Seven unions and interest groups filed the petition with the Supreme Court to remove the referendum from the November election. They say the measure's reference to the federal voting law is misleading and could cause voter confusion.