A citizen proposed ballot issue can only appear on the federal general election ballot once the proposed language has 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 sufficient verified signatures from qualified voters in Montana. Propose a ballot issue »
Initiative or referendum for the ballot – Signatures must be obtained from 5 percent of the total number of qualified voters in Montana (based on the number of votes cast for the office of governor in the last general election), including 5 percent of the voters in each of 34 legislative house districts.
Constitutional amendment by initiative – Signatures must be obtained from 10 percent of the total number of qualified voters in Montana (based on the number of votes cast for the office of governor in the last general election), including 10 percent of the voters in each of 40 legislative house districts.
ISSUES QUALIFIED FOR THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT
ISSUES QUALIFIED TO GATHER SIGNATURES FOR THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT
SUBMITTED BALLOT ISSUES FOR THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT
Ballot Issue #1
Subject: Amend 87-1-303, MCA- Rules for use of lands and waters to include 87-1-303(4): “Subject to the provisions of 87-1-301(6), MCA- The commission may not prohibit hunting of game animals on fee lands by the owner of said fee lands with a license issued by the department during the general hunting season that is valid throughout the state.
Type: Initiative
Submission #1: 3/10/2023
Status: Withdrawn
Submitter: Rick Schoening
Ballot Issue #2
Subject: Amend Article VIII, section 3 of the Constitution of the State of Montana to limit annual increases and in valuations of residential property to 2% when assessing property taxes if the property is not newly constructed, significantly improved, or had a change of ownership since January 1, 2019. Additionally the proposed amendment will establish 2019 state valuations as the base year for the valuations of residential property and permits annual reassessment and will require valuations to be reduced to reflect substantial damage, destruction, market conditions, or other factors causing decreases in value if requested b the owner.
Type: Constitutional Amendment
Submission #1: 4/18/2023
Status: Referred to Attorney General on 05/04/2023.
Submitter: Matthew Monforton
Ballot Issue #3
Subject: A proposed initiative to increase the dollar amount collected to license lobbyists as specified in 5-7-103 MCA Licenses-fees-eligibility-waiver. The law currently reads “The license fee is $150 for each Lobbyist”. With passage of this initiative, the $150 fee will be raised to $1,500 for each lobbyist and read as follows: “The license fee is $1,500 for each Lobbyist”.
Type: Ballot Initiative
Submission #1: 04/28/2023
Status: Referred to Attorney General on 05/16/2023.
Submitter: Carole Mackin
Ballot Issue #4
Subject: An initiative for processing an increase in the dollar amount collected from entities who employ lobbyists. As specified in 5-7-112 Payment threshold- inflation adjustment. For calendar year 2024, the payment threshold referred to in 5-7-102(12)(b)(iii), 5-7-103, and 5-7-208 is raised from $2,150 to $3,700.
Type: Ballot Initiative
Submission #1: 04/28/2023
Status: Referred to Legislative Services Division on 04/28/2023.
Submitter: Carole Mackin
Ballot Issue #5
Subject: A Referendum on HB 234: HB234 revises the laws that distinguish between two criminal offences: obscenity and display or dissemination of obscene material to minors. HB234 allows cities, towns, counties, or school districts to adopt ordinances, resolutions, or policies more restrictive than state law. HB234 also revises the definitions of “newsstand” and “commercial establishment” to exclude schools, libraries or museums. Laws amended: 45-8-201, 205, and 206 MCA
Type: Referendum
Submission #1: 05/03/2023
Status: Referred to Legislative Services Division on 05/09/2023.
Submitter: Carole Mackin
Ballot Issue #6
Subject: An initiative to amend the Montana Constitution to include pre-kindergarten education in the system of free quality public schools.
Type: Constitutional Initiative
Submission #1: 05/03/2023
Status: Withdrawn
Submitter: John Meyer
Ballot Issue #7
Subject: An initiative to amend the Montana Constitution to remove rulemaking authority from the Supreme Court to govern admission to the Bar and conduct of its members and returns rulemaking authority to the Montana legislature where it was prior to the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention; and provides an effective date.
Type: Constitutional Initiative
Submission #1: 05/04/2023
Status: Referred to Legislative Services Division on 05/09/2023.
Submitter: Nicole Bennett