Montana | Instant InitiativeInitiative Rules & Requirements
Direct Constitutional Amendment
- Signature Requirement
- 60,242 signatures required.
- Filing Deadline
- June 19, 2026.
- Filing Office
- https://sosmt.gov/elections/ballot_measures/
- Filing Fee
- $3,700
- Review Process
- Extensive AG review; legislature must hold a hearing on the proposal.
- Subject Restrictions
- Cannot appropriate money or authorize debt.
- Distribution Rules
- Constitutional: 10% of voters in 40 of 100 house districts.
- Circulator Rules
- Must be 18+; no residency requirement.
- Ballot Title Process
- Attorney General reviews for legal sufficiency and writes the title.
Last verified: 3/29/2026
Direct Statute Initiative
- Signature Requirement
- 30,121 signatures required.
- Filing Deadline
- June 19, 2026.
- Filing Office
- https://sosmt.gov/elections/ballot_measures/
Review ProcessExtensive AG review; legislature must hold a hearing on the proposal. Subject RestrictionsCannot appropriate money or authorize debt. Distribution RulesStatutory: 5% of voters in 34 of 100 house districts. Circulator RulesMust be 18+; no residency requirement. Ballot Title ProcessAttorney General reviews for legal sufficiency and writes the title. Notes: Montana's high filing fee ($3,700) and strict legislative review make it a high-entry-cost state.
Referendum
- Signature Requirement
- Statutory: 30,121; Constitutional: 60,242 signatures required.
- Filing Deadline
- June 19, 2026.
- Filing Office
- https://sosmt.gov/elections/ballot_measures/
- Filing Fee
- $3,700
- Review Process
- Extensive AG review; legislature must hold a hearing on the proposal.
- Subject Restrictions
- Cannot appropriate money or authorize debt.
- Distribution Rules
- 5% to 10% of voters across designated house districts.
- Circulator Rules
- Must be 18+; no residency requirement.
- Ballot Title Process
- Attorney General reviews for legal sufficiency and writes the title.
Last verified: 3/29/2026
