Montana CC-2, Constitutional Convention Question (2010)
| Montana CC-2 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic State constitutional conventions |
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| Status |
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| Type Automatic constitutional convention question |
Origin |
Montana CC-2 was on the ballot as an automatic constitutional convention question in Montana on November 2, 2010. It was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported holding a constitutional convention. |
A "no" vote opposed holding a constitutional convention. |
Election results
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Montana CC-2 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 140,869 | 41.49% | ||
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198,664 | 58.51% | ||
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- Results are officially certified.
- Source
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for CC-2 was as follows:
| “ | A CALL FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION REQUIRED BY THE MONTANA CONSTITUTION Article XIV, sections 3 and 4, of the Montana constitution requires the question of holding an unlimited constitutional convention to be submitted to the people at the general election in each 20th year following its last submission. If a majority of those voting on the question answer in the affirmative, the legislature shall provide for the calling thereof at its next session. [ ] FOR calling a constitutional convention. [ ] AGAINST calling a constitutional convention. | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Media endorsements
Support
Ballotpedia did not locate media editorial boards in opposition to the ballot measure.
Opposition
- The Bozeman Daily Chronicle stated its opposition to the measure, arguing, "Voters will get the chance to pass judgment on Constitutional Convention Call 2 on Nov. 2, but they should say no to this one. Rewriting the constitution would be an enormously expensive undertaking and there is simply no call for radical changes in the document at this juncture."[1]
- The Great Falls Tribune was against the measure, stating, "The fact that the Constitution has been amended a number of times and the fact that this very ballot issue is mandated by the Constitution every 20 years are measures of the document's strength, not its weakness. We hope Montanans will resoundingly vote againstcalling for a constitutional convention."[2]
Background
Automatic/mandatory ballot referrals
In 14 states, the question of whether to hold a constitutional convention is automatically referred to a statewide ballot without any requirement for a vote of the state legislature to place the question on the ballot. One of the fourteen states with a mandatory requirement is Oklahoma, though state officials have declined to place the mandatory measure on the ballot since 1970.[3]
| State | Question interval | Last question on ballot | Next question on ballot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Every 10 years | 2022 | 2032 |
| Iowa | Every 10 years | 2020 | 2030 |
| New Hampshire | Every 10 years | 2022 | 2032 |
| Rhode Island | Every 10 years | 2024 | 2034 |
| Hawaii | Every 10 years | 2018 | 2028 |
| Michigan | Every 16 years | 2010 | 2026 |
| Connecticut | Every 20 years | 2008 | 2028 |
| Illinois | Every 20 years | 2008 | 2028 |
| Maryland | Every 20 years | 2010 | 2030 |
| Missouri | Every 20 years | 2022 | 2042 |
| Montana | Every 20 years | 2010 | 2030 |
| New York | Every 20 years | 2017 | 2037 |
| Ohio | Every 20 years | 2012 | 2032 |
| Oklahoma | Every 20 years | 1970 | N/A |
Constitutional convention questions
From 2000 to 2022, 22 constitutional convention questions appeared on the statewide ballot in 13 states. All of the measures were defeated. The average vote was 64.44% opposed to 35.03% in favor. The question that came closest to being approved was in New Hampshire in 2002, which was defeated by a vote of 49.13% in favor to 50.87% opposed.
| State | Year | Yes (%) | No (%) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 2000 | 32.42% | 67.58% | 
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| Alaska | 2002 | 28.36% | 71.64% |
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| Missouri | 2002 | 34.55% | 65.45% |
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| New Hampshire | 2002 | 49.13% | 50.87% |
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| Rhode Island | 2004 | 48.00% | 52.00% |
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| Connecticut | 2008 | 40.60% | 59.40% |
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| Hawaii | 2008 | 35.00% | 65.00% |
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| Illinois | 2008 | 32.77% | 67.23% |
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| Iowa | 2010 | 32.84% | 67.16% |
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| Maryland | 2010 | 48.10% | 40.27% |
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| Michigan | 2010 | 33.39% | 66.60% |
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| Montana | 2010 | 41.49% | 58.51% |
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| Ohio | 2012 | 31.92% | 68.08% |
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| New Hampshire | 2012 | 35.96% | 64.04% |
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| Alaska | 2012 | 33.41% | 66.59% |
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| Rhode Island | 2014 | 44.90% | 55.10% |
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| New York | 2017 | 16.97% | 83.03% |
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| Hawaii | 2018 | 25.57% | 74.43% |
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| Iowa | 2020 | 29.58% | 70.42% |
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| Alaska | 2022 | 29.52% | 70.48% |
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| Missouri | 2022 | 32.30% | 67.70% |
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| New Hampshire | 2022 | 33.89% | 66.11% |
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Path to the ballot
According to Article XIV of the Montana Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years. Montana is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The Bozeman Daily Chronicle, "Chronicle editorial: Editorial board offers endorsements on key initiatives," October 20, 2010
- ↑ Great Falls Tribune, "Against calling a constitutional convention," October 26, 2010
- ↑ Montana Law Review, "The Political Dynamics of Mandatory State Constitutional Convention Referendums: Lessons from the 2000s Regarding Obstacles and Pathways to their Passage", Volume 71, Issue 2, Summer 2010; retrieved August 21, 2016
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