POLICY LANGUAGE

Recent experience with the ballot initiative qualification process in Montana has shown that being thorough and maintaining maximum flexibility is the best approach in case the government review process delays the start of signature gathering.

While both policies achieve the same goal of ensuring all elected judicial positions remain nonpartisan, the second filed initiative serves as a “back up” language in case the government review process goes awry. Following the review process, we will move forward with only one initiative.

BALLOT LANGUAGE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVE NO. *** (CI-***)

CONSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVE NO. ***

A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION

CI-*** amends the constitution to require that judicial elections in Montana remain nonpartisan. It prohibits the legislature from creating new courts unless the judges are subject to nonpartisan elections by the people.

[ ] YES on Constitutional Initiative CI-***

[ ] NO on Constitutional Initiative CI-***

THE COMPLETE TEXT OF CONSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVE NO. *** (CI-***)

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Article VII of The Constitution of the State of Montana is amended by adding a new section 12 that reads:

Section 12. Nonpartisan Judicial Elections. (1) Judicial elections shall remain nonpartisan.

(2) Any new court created after this amendment becomes effective must consist of judges elected on a nonpartisan basis.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective on approval by the electorate.