Montana signature requirements
From Ballotpedia
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Montana signature requirements are based on the number of votes cast for the position of Governor of Montana in the state's most recent gubernatorial election.
Montana held a gubernatorial election in 2008 and 486,730 votes were cast for the office of governor at that time. 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.
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 must be filed by June 18, 2010.
| Year | Amendment | Statute | Veto referendum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 48,673 | 24,336 | 24,336 |
| 2008 | 44,615 | 22,308 | 22,308 |
Basis of calculation
- Signatures equal to 10% of those who voted for governor in the last gubernatorial election are required for a constitutional amendment.
- Signatures equal to 5% of those who voted for governor in the last gubernatorial election are required for an initiated state statute or a veto referendum.
Geographic distribution
- For a constitutional amendment, signatures must come from 10 percent of the voters in each of 40 legislative districts. Montana has 100 legislative districts.
- For an initiated statute or a veto referendum, signatures must come from 5% of the voters in each of 34 legislative districts.
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 must be compared with the signatures in the registration records of the office.
Recall
- To recall statewide officers, signatures must equal 10% of voters for office to be recalled at time of the last election
- For district officers, signatures must equal 15% of voters for office to be recalled at time of the last election
See also
External links
- 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
