Skip to Content

Montana judge: Signatures of inactive voters count for initiatives, including 1 to protect abortion

Associated Press

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A Montana judge says the Secretary of State’s Office was wrong to change the rules governing whose signatures should count on petitions for constitutional initiatives, including one to protect abortion rights. Officials had tried to omit the signatures of inactive voters after counties began verifying signatures. District Judge Mike Menahan said Tuesday that the signatures of inactive voters should count. He gave county election officials an extra week to verify those signatures. The abortion initiative and two other election initiatives are expected to qualify for the November ballot, even without the signatures of inactive voters. But Menahan said he was upholding citizens’ fundamental rights to participate in government.

Article Topic Follows: AP National

Jump to comments ↓

Author Profile Photo

Associated Press

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KIFI Local News 8 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content