The 2012 Voter Information Pamphlet (VIP) is available online at the following link: 2012 Voter Information Pamphlet.
The following proposals appeared on the November 6, 2012 general election ballot:
LR-120 (HB 627)
Subject: Referendum to require parental notification prior to abortion for a minor, providing for judicial waiver of notification, repealing prior statutes, and providing penalties.
Type: Legislative Referendum
Status: APPROVED BY VOTERS. Legislature referred HB 627 to the 2012 General Election Ballot.
LR-121 (HB 638)
Subject: Referendum to deny certain state services to illegal aliens.
Type: Legislative Referendum
Status: APPROVED BY VOTERS. Legislature referred HB 638 to the 2012 General Election Ballot.
LR-122 (SB 418)
Subject: Referendum to prohibit the state or federal government from mandating the purchase of health insurance or imposing penalties for decisions related to purchasing health insurance.
Type: Legislative Referendum
Status: APPROVED BY VOTERS. Legislature referred SB 418 to the 2012 General Election Ballot.
Ballot Issue #3 IR-124
Subject: Referendum on SB 423, a bill which repeals I-148 and enacts a new medical marijuana program.
Sponsor: John Masterson, Montana Cannabis Industry Association
Type: Initiative Referendum
Received by SOS: May 12, 2011
Status: APPROVED BY VOTERS.
Total signatures received and tallied by SOS (final):
5% qualification to appear on the 2012 ballot: 36,374 of 24,337 total signatures needed; qualified in 72 of 34 legislative districts needed.
15% qualification to appear on the 2012 ballot and to suspend the law: Qualified in 3 of 51 legislative districts needed (need 15% in each of at least 51 legislative districts).
Ballot Issue #10 I-166
Subject: Charge Montana elected and appointed officials, state and federal, with implementing a policy that corporations are not human beings with constitutional rights.
Sponsor: Jonathan Motl
Type: Statutory initiative
Received by SOS: February 28, 2012
Status: APPROVED BY VOTERS.
Signatures received and tallied by SOS: 32,112 of 24,337 total signatures needed; qualified in 61 of 34 legislative districts needed.
A citizen proposed ballot issue could only appear on the 2012 general election ballot once the proposed language fulfilled three requirements. First, the language must be submitted to Montana’s Legislative Services Division. Second, the Montana Attorney General must conduct a legal review. Finally, after the review process is complete, and the sponsor has been notified by the Secretary of State of the approval or rejection of the ballot issue, the sponsor must collect signatures from qualified voters in Montana.
Initiative or referendum for the ballot – Signatures must be obtained from 5 percent of the total number of qualified voters in Montana, including 5 percent of the voters in each of 34 legislative house districts (a total of 24,337 signatures for the 2012 ballot).
Constitutional amendment by initiative – Signatures must be obtained from 10 percent of the total number of qualified voters in Montana, including 10 percent of the voters in each of 40 legislative house districts (a total of 48,674 signatures for the 2012 ballot).
Please Note: Ballot issue numbers listed below are assigned by the order in which they were received at the Office of the Montana Secretary of State. They do not reflect a ranking or how the initiative would be numbered if it were placed on the ballot.
The following are citizen proposals for statewide ballot initiatives for the November 6, 2012, general election ballot that were submitted to the Secretary of State and that did not have sufficient signatures filed by the July 20, 2012 deadline:
Ballot Issue #1 CI-107
Subject: Amend the Montana Constitution to allow a person accused of a crime to argue to the jury the merits of the law.
Contact Person: Roger Roots
Sponsor: Roger Roots
Type: Constitutional initiative
Received by SOS: March 25, 2011
Status: Insufficient signatures filed by the deadline.
Final total of signatures received and tallied by SOS: 309 of 48,674 total signatures needed; qualified in 0 of 40 legislative districts needed.
Ballot Issue #2
Subject: Amend the Montana Constitution’s due process section to define “person” to include every human being at any stage of development, including fertilization or conception.
Contact Person: Annie Bukacek
Sponsor: Annie Bukacek
Type: Statutory initiative
Received by SOS: May 2, 2011
Status: Withdrawn by Sponsor.
Ballot Issue #4 IR-125
Subject: Overturn House Bill198, a bill which states that public utilities and certain state-certifiedentities may exercise the power of eminent domain.
Contact Person: Kate Ord
Sponsor: Kate Ord
Type: Initiative Referendum
Received by SOS: May 18, 2011
Status: Insufficient signatures filed by the deadline.
Final total of signatures received and tallied by SOS: 8,937 of 24,337 total signatures needed; qualified in 9 of 34 legislative districts needed.
Ballot Issue #5
Subject: Secure the rights of adults regarding alcohol and marijuana.
Contact Person: Barb Trego
Sponsor: Barb Trego
Type: Constitutional Initiative
Received by SOS: July 11, 2011
Status: Rejected by Attorney General.
Ballot Issue #6 CI-108
Subject: Amend the Montana Constitution’s due process section to define “person” to include “all human beings at every stage of development,” including fertilization or conception.
Contact Person: Annie Bukacek
Sponsor: Annie Bukacek
Type: Constitutional Initiative
Received by SOS: July 14, 2011
Status: Insufficient signatures filed by the deadline.
Final total of signatures received and tallied by SOS: 23,570 of 48,674 total signatures needed; qualified in 12 of 40 legislative districts needed.
Ballot Issue #7 CI-109
Subject: Amend Article III, Section 4, of the Montana Constitution to reserve to the people the power to amend or repeal laws passed by initiative.
Contact Person: Michelle Hutsell
Sponsor: Michelle Hutsell
Type: Constitutional Initiative
Received by SOS: September 2, 2011
Status: Insufficient signatures filed by the deadline.
Final total of signatures received and tallied by SOS: 652of 48,674 total signatures needed; qualified in 0 of 40 legislative districts needed.
Ballot Issue #8 CI-110
Subject: Amend Article II, Section 14, of the Montana Constitution to establish a right for adults to marijuana subject to reasonable state law limitations.
Contact Person: Barb Trego
Sponsor: Barb Trego
Type: Constitutional Initiative
Received by SOS: October 14, 2011
Status: Insufficient signatures filed by the deadline.
Final total of signatures received and tallied by SOS: 17,910 of 48,674 total signatures needed; qualified in 5 of 40 legislative districts needed.
Ballot Issue #9
Subject: Statewide Flat-Transaction Tax.
Contact Person: Toby McAdam
Sponsor: Toby McAdam
Type: Constitutional Initiative
Received by SOS: October 31, 2011
Status: Sponsor did not respond to review by Legislative Services.