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Bill

LC 1635

Require ballot issue signature gatherers to be Montana citizens and registered voters

2025 Regular Session

Requires all signature gatherers for Montana ballot measures to be Montana citizens and registered voters, affecting sponsors, collectors, paid or volunteer, and election officials

(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
#ballotissues(seealso:elections) #elections(seealso:ballotissues)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · LC 1635

Bill LC 1635 — Require ballot issue signature gatherers to be Montana citizens and registered voters

Overview

LC 1635 seeks to change who may collect signatures for ballot issues in Montana. Based on the bill’s title, it would require that individuals who gather signatures for ballot measures (ballot issues) be Montana citizens and registered voters. The text of the bill is not provided here, so the analysis focuses on the stated purpose and the likely scope implied by the title and the legislative history notes.

Purpose and intent

  • Strengthen assurances about who participates in the petitioning process for ballot measures.
  • Align signature gathering with recognized civic participation (citizenship status and voter registration) to potentially enhance legitimacy and public trust in ballot initiatives and referenda.

Key provisions (subject to actual text)

Note: The exact statutory language, definitions, exemptions, and penalties are not included in the provided materials. Based on the title, the bill would likely address:
- A requirement that signature gatherers for ballot issues be Montana citizens.
- A requirement that signature gatherers for ballot issues be registered voters in Montana.
- Definitions of terms such as “signature gatherer,” “ballot issue,” “Montana citizen,” and “registered voter.”
- Compliance mechanics (e.g., affidavits, attestations, or record-keeping) and who verifies eligibility.
- Enforcement provisions and penalties for noncompliance.
- Effective date and any transitional provisions.

Potential issues to be clarified in the full text:
- Whether the requirement applies to all signature gathering or only to paid or third-party signature gatherers.
- Any exceptions (e.g., signatures gathered by sponsors, volunteers, or certain organizations).
- How the state would verify citizenship and voter registration status of gatherers.
- Penalties (fines, invalidation of signatures, or other sanctions) and enforcement agency (likely the Secretary of State or elections officials).
- Timeline for compliance and whether existing petition drives are grandfathered.

Who would be affected

  • Signature gatherers for ballot issues (including volunteers or paid contractors), who would be required to be Montana citizens and registered voters.
  • Ballot issue sponsors and petition organizers, who may need to ensure or verify the eligibility of their signature gatherers.
  • State election authorities responsible for enforcement and compliance verification (e.g., Secretary of State).
  • Potential ripple effects on petitioning operations, including contractors and firms that specialize in signature collection.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced: November 19, 2024.
  • Legislative actions show a drafting and review process through December 2024 and January–February 2025, with multiple LC steps (draft, input/proofing, legal review, final drafter, assembly status).
  • Latest available action: February 21, 2025, “Draft Delivered to Requester.”
  • Status: (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester; the bill may still be in drafting/review phases and not yet introduced in a final form for committee consideration.

Potential impact and considerations

  • May increase safeguards around the integrity of ballot measures but could raise administrative requirements and compliance costs for petition drives.
  • Potential constitutional or practical questions regarding citizens’ rights and voter eligibility verification.
  • The actual impact will depend on the final text, including definitions, exemptions, and enforcement mechanisms.

Next steps

  • Review the full bill text when available to confirm definitions, scope, exemptions, penalties, and implementation timeline.
  • Monitor committee hearings and amendments to understand policy trade-offs and potential impact on petition drives and voter participation.

Note: This summary is based on the bill title and listed legislative actions. The actual provisions may differ once the formal text is released.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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