Montana signature requirements
 (By state) |
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Contents |
Federal offices
U.S. Senate
Partisan candidates for U.S. Senate had to submit a filing fee of $1,740.[1][2]
Independent candidates for U.S. Senate had to submit a petition with 9,993 signatures, equal to 5% or more of the total votes cast for the successful candidate for the same office at the last general election. Candidates had to still submit a declaration and oath of candidacy and pay the filing fee.[3]
Write-in candidates for U.S. Senate had to file a declaration of intent and pay the filing fee at the time of filing.[4][2]
U.S. House
Partisan candidates for U.S. House had to submit a filing fee of $1,740.[1][2]
Independent candidates for U.S. House had to submit a petition with 10,885 signatures, equal to 5% or more of the total votes cast for the successful candidate for the same office at the last general election. Candidates had to also submit a declaration and oath of candidacy and pay the filing fee.[3]
Write-in candidates for U.S. House had to file a declaration of intent and pay the filing fee at the time of filing.[4][2]
Filing deadlines
2012
Partisan candidates for U.S. Senate and U.S. House had to submit filing fee by March 12, 2012.[5] Independent and write-in candidates had to also submit forms and filing fees by same filing deadline of March 12, 2012.[3] [2]
State offices
Statewide executive offices
Governor
Partisan candidates for Governor of Montana had to be a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Montana for the two years preceding election.[2] They also pay a filing fee of $1,945.29.[1]
Independent candidates for Governor of Montana had to submit a petition with 15,934 signatures.[3] Candidates also submit a declaration and oath of candidacy and appropriate filing fee of $1,945.29.[3][1]
Lieutenant Governor
Partisan candidates for Lieutenant Governor of Montana had to be a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Montana for the two years preceding election.[2] Candidates had to also pay a filing fee of $1,945.29.[1]
Independent candidates had to also submit a declaration and oath of candidacy and pay the filing fee.[3]
Secretary of State
Partisan candidates for Secretary of State of Montana had to be a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Montana for the two years preceding election.[2] Candidates had to also pay a filing fee of $860.18.[1]
Independent candidates for Secretary of State of Montana had to submit a petition with 11,686 signatures, equal to 5% or more of the total votes cast for the successful candidate for the same office at the last general election. [3] Candidates also submit a declaration and oath of candidacy and pay the filing fee.[3]
Attorney General
Partisan candidates for Attorney General of Montana had to be a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Montana for the two years preceding election.[2] A candidate had to be an attorney in good standing admitted to practice law in Montana and in active practice for at least five years before election. [2] Candidates had to also pay a filing fee of $1060.99.[1]
Independent candidates for Attorney General of Montana had to submit a petition with 12,284 signatures, equal to 5% or more of the total votes cast for the successful candidate for the same office at the last general election. [3] Candidates had to also submit a declaration and oath of candidacy and pay the filing fee.[3]
State Auditor
Partisan candidates for State Auditor of Montana had to be a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Montana for the two years preceding election.[2] Candidates had to also pay a filing fee of $860.18.[1]
Independent candidates for State Auditor of Montana had to submit a petition with 12,327 signatures, equal to 5% or more of the total votes cast for the successful candidate for the same office at the last general election. [3] Candidates had to also submit a declaration and oath of candidacy and pay the filing fee.[3]
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Partisan candidates for Superintendent of Public Instruction of Montana had to be a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Montana for the two years preceding election.[2] Candidates had to also pay a filing fee of $1046.35.[1]
Independent candidates for Superintendent of Public Instruction of Montana had to submit a petition with 11,725 signatures, equal to 5% or more of the total votes cast for the successful candidate for the same office at the last general election. [3] Candidates had to also submit a declaration and oath of candidacy and pay the filing fee.[3]
State legislature
State Senate
Partisan candidates for State Senate had to be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Montana for at least 1 year, and a resident of the county and/or district they seek to represent for at least 6 months preceding the election.[2] Candidates had to also pay a filing fee of $15.00.[1]
Independent candidates for State Senate had to submit a petition with signatures equal to 5% or more of the total votes cast for the successful candidate for the same office at the last general election. [3] Candidates had to also submit a declaration and oath of candidacy and pay the filing fee of $15.00.[3]
State House
Partisan candidates for State House had to be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Montana for at least 1 year, and a resident of the county and/or district they seek to represent for at least 6 months preceding the election.[2] Candidates had to also pay a filing fee of $15.00.[1]
Independent candidates for State House had to submit a petition with signatures equal to 5% or more of the total votes cast for the successful candidate for the same office at the last general election. [3] Candidates had to also submit a declaration and oath of candidacy and pay the filing fee of $15.00.[3]
Filing deadlines
2012
Partisan, independent, and write in candidates had to all file by the filing deadline of March 12, 2012.[2]
Ballot measures
Signature requirements in Montana are based on the number of votes cast for the position of Governor of Montana in the state's most recent gubernatorial election[6].
Signature requirements
The number of signatures required to qualify a measure for the ballot is tied to how many votes were cast in the last gubernatorial election. To place a constitutional amendment on the ballot, proponents must collect 10% of votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial general election. For a new state statute or veto referendum, 5% of votes cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election are required.
| Year | Amendment | Statute | Veto referendum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 48,349 | 24,174 | 24,174 |
| 2012 | 48,673 | 24,337 | 24,337 |
| 2010 | 48,673 | 24,337 | 24,337 |
| 2008 | 44,615 | 22,308 | 22,308 |
See law: Montana Constitution, Article III, Section 4 & Article XIV, Sections 9
Basis of calculation
- Montana held a gubernatorial election in 2008 and 486,734 votes were cast for the office of governor at that time.[7] The state will hold another in 2012; the requirements for a 2010 initiated measure in Montana will be the same as those for a 2012 initiated measure. The requirements will change again after the November 2012 gubernatorial election.
Geographic distribution
- See also: Distribution requirement
- For a constitutional amendment, signatures had to come from 10 percent of the voters in each of 40 legislative districts. Montana has 100 legislative districts[8]
- For an initiated statute or a veto referendum, signatures had to come from 5% of the voters in each of 34 legislative districts[8].
Signature validation procedure
In Montana, signed petition sheets are turned in by sponsors on a county-by-county basis to county election officials rather than centrally with the Montana Secretary of State. County officials are required to check the names of all petition signers to verify the registration status of each petition signer. In addition, county election officials are to randomly select signatures on each petition sheet for comparison with the signatures of the electors as they appear in the registration records of the office. If any of the randomly selected signatures do not appear to be genuine, all signatures on that sheet had to be compared with the signatures in the registration records of the office.
Recall
- See also: Laws governing recall in Montana
- To recall statewide officers, signatures had to equal 10% of voters for office to be recalled at time of the last election
- For district officers, signatures had to equal 15% of voters for office to be recalled at time of the last election
Signature deadlines
2012
The deadline to submit signatures for the 2012 ballot in Montana is September 30, 2011 for veto referendum and June 22, 2012 for initiated state statute and initiated constitutional amendment.[9].
2010
For the 2010 ballot in Montana:
- The earliest date to circulate petitions for signatures for 2010 ballot issues is June 18, 2009.
- The earliest date to submit signed ballot issue petitions to county election administrators to qualify for the 2010 ballot is October 16, 2009, except for signatures for veto referendum ballot issues.
- Signatures had to have been filed by June 18, 2010.
See also
- Laws governing the initiative process in Montana
- Montana 2010 ballot measures
- States where signature requirements are based on votes cast for governor
External links
- Proposed 2010 ballot measures
- Ballot Issues, overview of procedures and signature requirements for ballot proposals from the Montana Secretary of State.
- The Power to Recall from the Independent American's website
- NCSL signature chart for 2008
- Montana signature requirements collated by the Citizens in Charge Foundation
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Montana Secretary of State "2012 Offices and Filing Fees" Accessed April 25, 2012
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 Montana Secretary of State "Candidate Filing Information" Accessed April 25, 2012
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 Montana Secretary of State "Independent, Minor Party, Candidate Information" Accessed April 25, 2012
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Montana Secretary of State "Candidate Calendar 2012" Accessed April 25, 2012
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State "Major Party and NonPartisan Candidate Information" Accessed April 25, 2012
- ↑ [Confirmed with Montana Secretary of State via phone on January 25, 2011. Representative with SOS said that the signature requirements based on electors in the gubernatorial election is correct.]
- ↑ 2008 Montana Official Election Results
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 [Confirmed with a representative of the Montana Secretary of State on January 25, 2011 via phone. A representative with the SOS said that the current requirements are based on a court decision 10 years ago mandating the distribution requirement to be calculated by legislative districts]
- ↑ [Confirmed with MT Secretary of State via phone on 1-26-2011]
