Breakdown of state initiatives on the ballot

There are three constitutional initiatives on the ballot for Montana voters this election.

Constitutional Initiative No. 126 (CI-126)

CI-126 proposes a change to the Montana Constitution that would require a top-four primary election before the general election. All candidates who wish to run in the general election would appear on the primary ballot and the top four candidates would go on to the general election. This change would apply to elections for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, state representative, state senator, U.S. House representative and U.S. senator.

This means that all candidates vying for a certain position would appear on the primary ballot, regardless of their political affiliation or party endorsement. Furthermore, CI-126 would prohibit the ballot from indicating any endorsement by any political party. The candidates on the ballot would be able to list a political preference, but that preference would not indicate endorsement by the party. The legislature also has the option to require candidates to collect signatures of support before their name can appear on the ballot. In that case, they would need signatures equal to five percent of the amount of votes the winning candidate won in the last election. CI-126 would allow all voters to vote for one candidate, regardless of political party, for each office.

Constitutional Initiative No. 127 (CI-127)

CI-127 would change how elections for certain offices are decided. Currently, elections in Montana are decided by plurality, or who gets the most votes. CI-127 would change this so that elections are decided by majority vote. To win a majority vote, one must receive 50 percent or more of the votes available, as opposed to just getting more votes than the other candidates. If two or more candidates are tied, the election is determined as provided by law. In the case of a tie, there is an initial recount, and if the recount still results in a tie, the vote will be decided by drawing lots. This applies to positions for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, state representative, state senator, U.S. House representative and U.S. senator.

Constitutional Initiative No. 128 (CI-128)

CI-128 will have Montana voters decide the future of abortion and reproductive rights in the state. This initiative would establish reproductive care and access to abortion as a fundamental right. If passed, it would prohibit the government from interfering with the ability to have an abortion before fetal viability, which refers to the fetus’ ability to survive outside of the womb. The bill would also not allow the government to interfere with the ability to get an abortion when a medical professional has determined the abortion will protect the pregnant person’s life or health. This initiative prohibits the government from penalizing anyone who assists with another person’s ability to make decisions about their own pregnancy. This would protect medical providers, the patient and anyone else involved in the process of carrying out decisions regarding pregnancy.