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.
CI-124 (Ballot Issue #7)
Subject: Under the 1972 Constitution, the requirements for a person seeking admission to the practice of law in Montana are determined by the Montana Supreme Court under Article VII, section 2, of the Montana Constitution. CI-124 amends the Montana Constitution to remove jurisdiction from the Supreme Court to govern admission to the Bar and the conduct of its members.
Type: Constitutional Initiative
Submission #1: 05/04/2023
Status: Petition has been approved for signature gathering as of 08/02/2023.
Submitter: Nicole Bennett
I-192 (Ballot Issue #9)Subject: Designates American rodeo as the official sport of Montana.Type: InitiativeSubmission #1: 07/12/2023Status: Petition has been approved for signature gathering as of 9/27/2023.Submitter: Tony Hudson
CI-125 (Ballot Issue #8)
Subject: Currently, under the Montana Constitution, only a district court judge may convene a grand jury. CI-125 amends Article II, Section 20 of the Montana Constitution to also allow 100 plus one-half of one percent of a county’s electors to convene a grand jury by complaint and petition.
Type: Constitutional Initiative
Submission #1: 06/19/2023
Status: Petition has been approved for signature gathering as of 10/05/2023.
Submitter: Bart Crabtree
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: Waiting on submitter response to Legislative Services Division correspondence sent on 05/12/2023.
Submitter: Carole Mackin
Ballot Issue #10Subject: An act that prohibits Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission from denying the owner of fee patented lands from harvesting deer, elk, and black bear on their own property during the statewide general hunting season. The only exception would be in cases where local animal populations are in severe decline due to environmental factors such as disease or drought.Type: InitiativeSubmission #1: 08/10/2023
Status: Referred to the Legislative Services Division for committee review on 11/29/2023.
Submitter: Rick Schoening
Ballot Issue #12
Subject: Amends the Montana Constitution to provide a top-four primary election open to all voters and candidates followed by a general election. All candidates appear on a single primary election ballot, and the four candidates receiving the most votes advance to the general election. The ballot may list a candidate’s political party preference, but a candidate is not required to be nominated by a political party to qualify for the ballot. If candidates are required to gather signatures, the number required may not exceed five percent of the votes received by the winning candidate in the last election. The amendment applies to the elections for governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, state representative, state senator, United State representative, United States Senator, and other offices a provided by law.
Type: Constitutional Initiative
Submission #1: 08/16/2023
Status: Referred to the Legislative Services Division for committee review on 11/28/2023.
Submitter: Rob Cook, Frank Garner, Bruce Tutvedt, Doug Campbell, Ted Kronebusch, and Bruce Grubbs.
Ballot Issue #13Subject: Amends the Montana Constitution to provide that elections for certain offices must be decided by majority vote as determined as provided by law rather than by a plurality or the largest amount of the votes. If it cannot be determined who received a majority of votes because two or more candidates are tied, then the winner of the election will be determined as provided by law. This act applies to elections for governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, state representative, state senator, United States representative, United States Senator, and other offices as provided by law.Type: Constitutional InitiativeSubmission #1: 10/05/2023Status: Referred to Attorney General and Office of Budget and Program Planning on 11/15/2023.Submitter: Rob Cook, Frank Garner, Bruce Tutvedt, Doug Campbell, Ted Kronebusch, and Bruce Grubbs.
Ballot Issue #14Subject: A constitutional initiative that affirms the right to make and carry out decisions about one’s own pregnancy, including the right to abortion, in the Montana Constitution. This constitutional amendment prohibits the government from denying or burdening the right to abortion before fetal viability. Additionally, the amendment ensures that the government cannot deny or burden access to an abortion when it is necessary to protect the pregnant patient’s life or health. This constitutional amendment prevents the government from punishing patients, healthcare providers, or anyone who assists someone in seeking reproductive care, including abortion care.Type: Constitutional InitiativeSubmission #1: 11/22/2023Status: Referred to Legislative Services Division for review on 11/22/2023.Submitter: Samuel Dickman
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: Attorney General determined that the ballot issue is legally insufficient.
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: Attorney General determined that the ballot issue is legally insufficient.
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: Attorney General determined that the ballot issue is legally insufficient.
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 #11
Subject: Amends the Montana Constitution to provide that elections must be decided by majority vote rather than by a plurality or the largest amount of the votes. In the event no candidate receives the majority of votes or if it cannot be determined who received the majority of votes, then the winner of the election will be determined as provided by statute.
Type: Constitutional Initiative
Submission #1: 08/16/2023
Status: Withdrawn
Submitter: Rob Cook, Frank Garner, Bruce Tutvedt, Doug Campbell, Ted Kronebusch, and Bruce Grubbs.
If you observe and have concerns about questionable signature gathering, you may file a complaint with the Secretary of State, who will forward each complaint to the appropriate county official. See signature gathering information »
Note: The subject of a ballot issue may be paraphrased on this page. For ballot issues approved for signature gathering or qualified for the ballot, see the link for the statement that appears on the ballot.