Candidates differ over state's new voting requirements

HELENA - The candidates for secretary of state differed along party lines Wednesday over whether new voting requirements imposed on Montanans are good or bad for the election process.

Jon Ellingson and Bill Kennedy, the two Democratic contenders, said provisions of the law that go beyond those mandated by the federal government should be repealed because they discourage people from going to the polls.

But two of the three Republican candidates - Brad Johnson and Todd O'Hair - defended the law changes as necessary to protect the voting process from fraud.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Elling...