HELENA — Republican leaders from four more counties want to be added to a lawsuit to force Montana to close GOP primary election voting to only registered party members.
The Ravalli County Republican Central Committee filed its challenge of the state’s open primary system on Sept. 8 in U.S. District Court.
On Tuesday, Ravalli GOP attorney Matthew Monforton requested the addition of the GOP central committees in Gallatin, Sanders, Dawson and Stillwater counties as plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs allege Montana law allowing any registered voter to participate in any party primary is unconstitutional. Monforton calls the open primary system a relic that allows non-party members to interfere with the Republicans’ selection of nominees.
Montana Democrats have criticized the lawsuit as an attempt to shut voters out of the process.