13-27-204. Petition for initiative. (1) The following is substantially the form for a petition calling for a vote to enact a law by initiative:
PETITION TO PLACE INITIATIVE NO.____ ON THE ELECTION BALLOT
(a) If 5% of the voters in each of one-half of the counties sign this petition and the total number of voters signing this petition is _____, this initiative will appear on the next general election ballot. If a majority of voters vote for this initiative at that election, it will become law.
(b) We, the undersigned Montana voters, propose that the secretary of state place the following initiative on the _____________, 20__, general election ballot:
(Title of initiative written pursuant to 13-27-312) (Statement of implication written pursuant to 13-27-312)
(c) Voters are urged to read the complete text of the initiative, which appears (on the reverse side of, attached to, etc., as applicable) this sheet. A signature on this petition is only to put the initiative on the ballot and does not necessarily mean the signer agrees with the initiative.
(d)
WARNING
A person who purposefully signs a name other than the person's own to this petition, who signs more than once for the same issue at one election, or who signs when not a legally registered Montana voter is subject to a $500 fine, 6 months in jail, or both.
(e) Each person is required to sign the person's name and list the person's address or telephone number in substantially the same manner as on the person's voter registration card or the signature will not be counted.
(2) Numbered lines must follow the heading. Each numbered line must contain spaces for the signature, date, residence address, county of residence, and printed last name and first and middle initials of the signer. In place of a residence address, the signer may provide the signer's post-office address or the signer's home telephone number. An address provided on a petition by the signer that differs from the signer's address as shown on the signer's voter registration card may not be used as the only means to disqualify the signature of that petition signer.
History: En. 37-118 by Sec. 4, Ch. 342, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 37-118; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 488, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 18, Ch. 51, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 537, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 323, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 481, L. 2007.
