MISSOULA — The signatures collected for ballot initiatives Montana CI-126 and CI-127 are currently being delivered to election offices to be placed on the ballot for November.
Ballot initiatives CI-126 and CI-127 aim to alter the way Montanans choose their legislators. They intend to do so by changing the primary election process and the voting threshold needed for a candidate to win.
Currently, Montana operates under an open primary system, allowing voters to select either Republican or Democrat candidates but not both.
CI-126 seeks to modify this system to enable voters to pick the candidates they prefer to elect regardless of party affiliation in the primary.
The top four primary election vote recipients will then proceed to the general election.
CI-127 is designed to revolutionize elections by mandating that a candidate secure at least 50% of the vote to win. In the event that no candidate achieves 50% of the vote, runoff elections will be conducted until a candidate reaches the required threshold.
Opponents of the ballot measures argue primarily that CI-127 would impose additional burden on voters through the implementation of runoff elections.
The proponents of the measures — Montanans for Election Reform—assert that the extra effort is justified.
“It’s not like this isn’t done in a lot of other places in the world and in this country,” stated Montanans for Election Reform board member Franks Garner. “So the good news is that these kind of elections are done successfully and they enjoy the benefits.”
Montanans for Election Reform ultimately contend that these two ballot measures will assist in reducing political polarization, limiting money in politics, and providing Montanans with candidates who truly reflect their beliefs rather than those of special interest groups.
