Montana 2014 ballot measures

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Two statewide ballot measures were certified for the November 4, 2014 ballot in the state of Montana. They were both defeated by voters.

One measure, a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, addressed administration of government, and the other, a legislatively referred state statute, addressed suffrage. Montana has no regular legislative session, as state law requires only 90 legislative days in two years. In order for lawmakers to put an amendment on the ballot, an affirmative roll call vote of two-thirds of all members of the Montana Legislature is required. Similarly, a simple majority is required in both chambers to place a legislatively referred state statute on the ballot.

A total of 17 initiatives were filed for potential spots on the 2014 ballot in Montana. However, several of these were repeat filings of nearly identical initiatives. Initiative sponsors sometimes file multiple versions of the same measure in order to increase the likelihood of it landing on the ballot. In order to place an initiated constitutional amendment before voters, supporters needed to collect at least 48,349 valid signatures by the June 20, 2014, filing deadline. Supporters of initiated state statutes needed to collect at least 24,174 valid signatures by the same deadline. No initiatives made the ballot.

Historical facts

• Between 1990 and 2013, an average of five measures have appeared on even-numbered election year ballots in Montana. Therefore, 2014 was a below-average year based on the number of certified measures.
• From 1990 to 2014, the number of measures on a statewide ballot has ranged from two to seven.
• Between 1990 and 2014, 42 of 72, or 58 percent, of Montana ballot measures have been approved by voters.
• Conversely, 30 of 72, or 42 percent, of measures have been defeated.

On the ballot

See also: 2014 ballot measures

November 4:

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	C-45	Admin of Gov't	Renames the position of state auditor to commissioner of securities and insurance	d
LRSS	LR-126	Suffrage	Closes late voter registration the Friday before election day	d

Not on the ballot

See also: Proposed ballot measures that were not on a ballot

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRSS	Primary Election Revision Measure	Elections	Establishes a "top-two" primary election system
LRSS	Unborn Child Homicide Measure	Law enforcement	Adds "unborn child" to list of homicide offenses
LRSS	State Employee Retirement Bill	Pensions	Places all future state employees on 401(k) retirement plans
LRSS	"Sheriffs First" Bill	Law enforcement	Requires that federal agents obtain permission from local sheriffs before making arrests or serving warrants
CICA	Marijuana Legalization Amendment	Marijuana	Legalizes the use of marijuana in the state
CICA	Special Elections for US Senator Vacancies Initiative	Elections	Requires special elections to fill vacancies for the office of United States Seantor
CICA	Right to Natural Consumables Amendment	Food	Establishes a right to natural foods, medicines, waters and soils
CICA	Gender Quota for Legislature Initiative	Legislature	Requires that the legislature be composed of 50 percent men and 50 percent women
CICA	Prohibit Warrantless Digital Communication Searches Initiative	Media	Prohibits warrantless searches of digital communications and prohibits general warrants
CICA	Legislative Power to Amend and Repeal Initiated Laws Initiative	Direct democracy	Prohibits the legislature from amending or repealing laws enacted via initiative, except under certain conditions
CISS	Dental Malpractice Protection Initiative	Tort law	Allows for payments as compensation for a certain defective dental procedure
CISS	Medicaid Expansion Initiative	Healthcare	Orders legislators to appropriate federal funds for the expansion of Medicaid to people making up to 138% of the poverty line
CISS	"Dark Money" Initiative	Elections	Requires 501(c)4 organizations to reveal donor information
CISS	Cable Company Property Tax Initiative	Taxes	Reclassifies cable television companies’ property for taxation purposes
CISS	Trapping Ban on Public Lands Initiative	Hunting	Prohibits trapping of certain animals by private individuals on any public lands within the state of Montana
CISS	Prohibit State Resources for Affordable Care Act Initiative	Healthcare	Prohibits the use of state resources to implement and enforce the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
CISS	Political Activity Disclosure Initiative	Elections	Requires reporting and disclosure by all persons and entities engaging in political activity
CISS	Marijuana Ban Initiative	Marijuana	Requires that drugs illegal under federal law are illegal under Montana law

See also

• 2014 ballot measures
• List of Montana ballot measures
• Laws governing the initiative process in Montana
• Montana Legislature

External links

• Initiatives filed with the Montana Secretary of State for 2014
• Constitutional amendments proposed in the Montana legislature

Additional reading

• Helena Independent Record, "No citizen initiatives make 2014 ballot," July 21, 2014
• Great Falls Tribune, "No citizen initiatives will be on Montana ballot," July 9, 2014