Election officials reaching out to voters who had ballots rejected

HELENA — Across Montana, election officials are warning they’ve seen a number of voters tripped up by a new state requirement this year: that mail voters write their birth year when signing their ballot envelopes.

Earlier this year, the Montana Legislature passed House Bill 719, which implemented the requirement – seen by supporters as a way to improve election security. The bill took effect Oct. 1, so the Nov. 4 municipal election was the first one where it applied.

(Watch the video for more on the new law's impact on voters in Lewis and Clark County.) Election officials reaching out to voters who had ballots rejected following new law

Unlike most counties in the state, Lewis and Clark County got an opportunity earlier this year to “soft-launch” the birth year requirement because