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Signature requirements for ballot measures in Montana
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| Laws • History |
| List of measures |
This page provides an overview of signature requirements for statewide citizen-initiated measures in Montana. Citizens can initiate constitutional amendments, state statutes, and veto referendums in Montana.
Signature requirements
In Montana, 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 an initiated constitutional amendment on the ballot, proponents must collect valid signatures signatures equal to 10 percent of votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial general election. For an initiated state statute or veto referendum, signatures equal to 5 percent of votes cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election are required. Whether a bill targeted by a veto referendum petition is suspended depends on the distribution requirement met, although the total requirement is the same. The petition must contain signatures equal to 5 percent of votes cast for governor from at least one-third of legislative districts to qualify the referendum for the ballot. If the petition contains signatures equal to 15 percent of votes cast for governor from a majority of legislative districts, it suspends the targeted law until the election.
The chart below shows election years and the signature requirement for initiatives designed to appear on the ballot in that year, with gubernatorial election years bolded.
| Year | Amendment | Statute | Veto referendum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028 | 60,241 | 30,121 | 30,121 |
| 2026 | 60,241 | 30,121 | 30,121 |
| 2024 | 60,359 | 30,180 | 30,180 |
| 2022 | 60,359 | 30,180 | 30,180 |
| 2020 | 50,936 | 25,468 | 25,468 |
| 2018 | 50,936 | 25,468 | 25,468 |
| 2016 | 48,349 | 24,174 | 24,174 |
| 2014 | 48,349 | 24,174 | 24,174 |
| 2012 | 47,694 | 23,847 | 23,847 |
| 2010 | 47,694 | 23,847 | 23,847 |
| 2008 | 44,615 | 22,308 | 22,308 |
See law: Montana Constitution, Article III, Section 4 Montana Constitution Article III, Section 7 & Article XIV, Section 9
Changes in number of required signatures
The following chart displays the change in the number of required signatures for Montana ballot initiatives from 2008 to 2026 based on votes cast for the office of governor.
Basis of calculation
Signature requirements in Montana are based on the number of votes cast for the position of governor in the state's most recent gubernatorial election.[1]
The following numbers of votes were cast for the position of governor in each year listed:[2]
| Year | Votes cast for governor |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 602,404 |
| 2020 | 603,587 |
| 2016 | 509,360 |
| 2012 | 483,489 |
| 2008 | 476,938 |
Geographic distribution
- See also: Distribution requirement
- For an initiated constitutional amendment, proponents must collect signatures equal to 10 percent of the qualified electors in each of two-fifths (40) of the state's 100 legislative districts.
- For an initiated state statute or a veto referendum, signatures must be equal to 5 percent of the qualified electors in each of one-third (34) of the state's 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
- See also: Laws governing recall in Montana
- To recall statewide officers, signatures had to equal 10 percent of voters for office to be recalled at time of the last election
- For district officers, signatures had to equal 15 percent of voters for office to be recalled at time of the last election
Signature deadlines
Once proponents have received the official petition proof copy, they have a maximum of one year to circulate petitions and receive certification from county election officials. The county officials must submit each verified petition to the secretary of state by the final filing deadline, which comes on the third Friday of the fourth month prior to the election. Proponents must submit their petitions to county officials no sooner than nine months and no later than four weeks prior to the final filing deadline. Proponents may begin collecting signatures no earlier than one year prior to the final filing deadline.
2026
The deadline to submit signatures to county clerks is June 19, 2026. The final deadline for county clerks to submit signatures to the secretary of state is July 17, 2026.
2024
The deadline to submit signatures to county clerks was June 21, 2024. The final deadline for county clerks to submit signatures to the secretary of state was July 19, 2024.
2022
The deadline to submit signatures to county clerks was June 24, 2022. The final deadline for county clerks to submit signatures to the secretary of state was July 15, 2022.
2020
The deadline to submit signatures to county clerks was June 22, 2020. The final deadline for county clerks to submit signatures to the secretary of state was July 17, 2020.
2018
The deadline to submit signatures to county clerks was June 22, 2018. The deadline to submit signatures to the secretary of state was July 20, 2018.
2016
- See also: Petition drive deadlines, 2016
The deadline to submit signatures for a veto referendum petition targeting the 2016 ballot was September 29, 2015. For initiated state statutes and initiated constitutional amendments, the signature submission deadline was June 17, 2016.
2014
The deadline to submit signatures for initiatives targeting the 2014 ballot in Montana was June 20, 2014.[3]
2012
The deadline to submit signatures to qualify a measure for the 2012 ballot in Montana was September 30, 2011, for veto referendum and June 22, 2012, for initiated state statute and initiated constitutional amendment.[4]
2010
For the 2010 ballot in Montana:
- The earliest date to circulate petitions for signatures for 2010 ballot issues was June 18, 2009.
- The earliest date to submit signed ballot issue petitions to county election administrators to qualify for the 2010 ballot was October 16, 2009, except for signatures for veto referendum ballot issues.
- Signatures had to have been filed by June 18, 2010.
See also
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Montana
- Laws governing the initiative process in Montana
- States where signature requirements are based on votes cast for governor
External links
- Proposed 2010 ballot measures
- Ballot Issues (dead link), 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
Footnotes
- ↑ Ballotpedia staff writer, "Telephone correspondence with Montana secretary of state," January 25, 2011
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "Official Election Results," accessed February 16, 2017
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Ballot Issues," accessed December 27, 2013
- ↑ Ballotpedia staff writer, "Telephone correspondence with Montana secretary of state," January 26, 2011
