Montana Senator tries to increase signature requirements
January 28, 2011
By Kyle Maichle
HELENA, Montana: State Senator Anders Blewett wants to increase the required number of signatures needed to authorize an initiative or referendum in Montana.[1]
Blewett introduced two bills that would increase the requirements.[1] Senate Bill 204 would double the number of signatures needed to authorize a constitutional amendment.[2] A separate bill has been proposed to double the required number of signatures for a statutory initiative[1] . A number has not been assigned yet to the bill because it's in the drafting process.[3]
To authorize a constitutional amendment in Montana, signatures must be collected from 10 percent of the total number of voters who cast a ballot in the prior Governor's election.[4] For an initiated statute five percent is required.[4] A two-thirds vote in both houses of the Legislature, along with voter ratification, is needed to approve the proposals.[4]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Citizens in Charge, "Montana Senator Wants to Make Sure Initiatives Don’t Make Ballot" 21 Jan. 2011
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "Bill Information of SB 204 (2011)
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "History of Bill Draft #LC0928 (2011)"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 [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]
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