WTF is a ballot initiative? – There are many different types of ballot initiatives. They all have one thing in common: they are proposed laws that can be passed or rejected by voters (that’s you!).
In Montana, any person or group can propose a ballot initiative or constitutional amendment. If they pass a legal review and gather enough signatures, that proposal will appear on the ballot. That is how CI-132, CI-133, and I-194 got on the ballot this year!
Constitutional Initiatives if passed, are enshrined in the Montana State Constitution as presented on your ballot!
CI-132: Judges should be elected based on their record and qualifications, not politics. CI-132 is a simple Constitutional Initiative that ensures Montana’s judicial elections remain nonpartisan. When everyday Montanans interact with our court system, they know there is no Republican or Democratic way to handle cases in family, traffic, civil, or criminal courts. Politicians in Helena recently passed HB39, a law allowing political parties to make financial contributions of nearly $90,000 to Montana judges. We need to protect impartial courts and keep them accountable to the Constitution, not political parties, because politics doesn’t belong in our courts.
- A yes vote on CI-132 means: you support this initiative to amend the state constitution to provide that judicial elections remain nonpartisan.
- A no vote on CI-132 means: you oppose this initiative to provide for judicial nonpartisan elections in the state constitution.
Forward Montana endorses CI-132
CI-133: CI-133 protects Montanans’ right to propose and vote on laws that affect our lives without government interference. Lobbyists and special interests have too much influence in Helena, and ballot measures give voters the power to keep government accountable to us. CI-133 prohibits the government from taking sides on ballot measures and from using taxpayer dollars to sway your vote. It guarantees a fair, transparent, and timely ballot measure process and keeps the government accountable to the voters.
- A yes vote on CI-133 means: you support protections to the ballot measure process and safeguards your right to propose, vote on, and veto laws without government interference.
- A no vote on CI-133 means: you oppose protections to the ballot measure process and safeguards your right to propose, vote on, and veto laws without government interference.
Forward Montana endorses CI-133
Statutory Initiatives if passed, would change state code, which is easier for state legislatures to either amend or overturn.
I-194: If passed, limits the powers of artificial persons to those powers necessary or convenient as provided by law. These powers must exclude contributing anything of value to candidate elections, supporting or opposing political parties, or supporting or opposing state or local ballot issues. Artificial persons include non-profits, trusts, partnerships, corporations, trade associations, or unincorporated associations and include all such entities doing business in Montana. Any violation of I-194 is punished by forfeiting all privileges to do business in Montana. Those privileges may be, but are not automatically, restored upon disgorgement and certification of compliance with I-194. I-194 does not apply to the distribution of news, commentary, or editorial content. I-194 also does not apply to the state of Montana, political subdivisions, individuals, political committees, or public corporations
- A yes vote on I-194 means: you support this initiative to prohibit artificial persons, including nonprofits, trusts, partnerships, corporations, trade associations, or unincorporated associations, and all entities doing business in Montana, from contributing to campaigns, ballot measure elections, or political parties
- A no vote on I-194 means: oppose this initiative to prohibit artificial persons, including nonprofits, trusts, partnerships, corporations, trade associations, or unincorporated associations, and all entities doing business in Montana, from contributing to campaigns, ballot measure elections, or political parties
Check out the rest of the voter guide!