Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 13. ELECTIONS

CHAPTER 35. ELECTION AND CAMPAIGN PRACTICES AND CRIMINAL PROVISIONS

Part 2. Specific Provisions

Improper Nominations

13-35-221. Improper nominations. (1) A person may not pay or promise valuable consideration to another, in any manner or form, for the purpose of inducing the other person to be or to refrain from or to cease being a candidate, and a person may not solicit or receive any payment or promise from another for that purpose.

(2) A person, in consideration of any gift, loan, offer, promise, or agreement, as mentioned in subsection (1), may not:

(a) be nominated or refuse to be nominated as a candidate at an election;

(b) become, individually or in combination with any other person or persons, a candidate for the purpose of defeating the nomination or election of any other person, without a bona fide intent to obtain the office; or

(c) withdraw if the person has been nominated.

(3) Upon complaint made to any district court, the judge shall issue a writ of injunction restraining the officer whose duty it is to prepare official ballots for a nominating election from placing the name of a person on the ballot as a candidate for nomination to any office if the judge is convinced that:

(a) the person has sought the nomination or seeks to have the person's name presented to the voters as a candidate for nomination by any political party for any mercenary or venal consideration or motive; and

(b) the person's candidacy for the nomination is not in good faith.

History: En. 23-47-129 by Sec. 29, Ch. 334, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 23-47-129; amd. Sec. 100, Ch. 56, L. 2009.