13-27-307. Consideration and tabulation of signatures by secretary of state. (1) The secretary of state shall consider and tabulate only such signatures on petitions as are certified by the proper county official, and each such certificate is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. However, the secretary of state may consider and tabulate any signature not certified by the county official that is certified by a notary public of the county in which the signer resides to be the genuine signature of an elector legally qualified to sign the petition.
     (2) The official certificate of the notary public for any signature not certified as valid by the county official shall be in substantially the following form:

State of Montana )     
      ) ss.
County of ...... )     

     
     I, ...... (name), a duly qualified and acting notary public in and for the above-named county and state, do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with each of the following-named electors whose signatures are affixed to the annexed (petition) (copy of a petition) and I know of my own knowledge that they are registered electors of the state of Montana and of the county and legislative district written after their names in the petition and that their post-office addresses are correctly stated therein.
     ......(Names of such electors)
     In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal this .... day of ......, 19...
     
          ...... (Signature)
     Seal     ...... (Notarial information)
     

     History: En. 37-124 by Sec. 10, Ch. 342, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 37-124; amd. Sec. 212, Ch. 571, L. 1979.