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HB 598

Require ballot issue signers to be active registered voters

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Zack Wirth

Requires Montana ballot initiative petition signers to be active registered voters at signing time, potentially raising costs and verification complexity for grassroots campaigns.

(H) Died in Process
#ballotissues #elections
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Bill Summary · HB 598

Legislative bill overview

HB 598 would require that individuals who sign petitions to place ballot initiatives on Montana ballots must be active registered voters at the time of signing. Currently, Montana law allows any registered voter to sign initiative petitions regardless of registration status at the time of signature collection. This bill aims to tighten verification requirements for ballot measure campaigns.

Why is this important

Ballot initiatives are a direct democracy mechanism allowing citizens to bypass the legislature and place measures directly before voters. The eligibility of petition signers affects how easily grassroots campaigns can qualify measures for the ballot, potentially influencing which issues reach voters. This debate touches on fundamental questions about who should participate in direct democracy processes and how strict verification should be.

Potential points of contention

  • Practical enforcement challenges: Determining which voters were "active" at the time of signing—rather than at the time of verification—would require detailed record-keeping and could be difficult to audit retroactively
  • Signature gathering costs: Stricter requirements could increase costs for petition campaigns, potentially favoring well-funded groups over grassroots organizers
  • Definition of "active": The bill would need to clearly define what constitutes an "active" registered voter, which could be subject to interpretation and legal challenges

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

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