Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 13. ELECTIONS

CHAPTER 27. STATEWIDE BALLOT ISSUES

Part 2. Preparation and Submission ofStatewide Ballot Issues

Petition For Constitutional Convention Initiative

13-27-242. Petition for constitutional convention initiative. (1) The following is substantially the form for a petition for a constitutional convention initiative:

PETITION TO PLACE INITIATIVE NO.____, CALLING FOR

A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, ON THE ELECTION BALLOT

(a) If 10% of the voters in each of 40 legislative districts sign this petition and the total number of voters signing this petition is _____, the question of whether to have a constitutional convention will appear on the next general election ballot. If a majority of voters vote for the constitutional convention, the legislature shall call for a constitutional convention at its next session.

(b) We, the undersigned Montana voters, propose that the secretary of state place the question of whether to hold a constitutional convention on the _______________, 20__, general election ballot:

(Title of the initiative written in conformity with 13-27-212)

(Yes and no statement written in conformity with 13-27-213)

(c) A signature on this petition is only to put the call for a constitutional convention on the ballot and does not necessarily mean the signer is in favor of calling a constitutional convention.

(d) Voters are advised that either an interim committee or an administrative committee of the legislature in accordance with 5-5-215 or 5-11-105 reviewed the content of this initiative and [did] or [did not] support the placement of the proposed text of this initiative on the ballot. The outcome of the vote was [x] in favor of placing the measure on the ballot and [x] against placing the measure on the ballot.

(e)

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 or 6 months in jail, or both.

(f) 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 form or the signature will not be counted.

(2) Numbered lines must follow the heading. Each numbered line must also contain spaces for the signature, residence address, legislative representative district number, 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 form may not be used as the only means to disqualify the signature of that petition signer.

History: En. 37-120 by Sec. 6, Ch. 342, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 37-120; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 198, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 488, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 19, Ch. 51, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 537, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 323, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 372, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 25, Ch. 368, L. 2017; Sec. 13-27-206, MCA 2021; redes. 13-27-242 by Code Commissioner, 2023; amd. Sec. 29, Ch. 647, L. 2023.