Only two ballot issues in this year's election

by Richard Hanners Hungry Horse News
| October 18, 2014 8:05 AM

Voters will see only two ballot issues this November. Both were referred to the voters by the Montana Legislature.

Neither ballot issue needed to meet signature-gathering requirements, as did the 18 citizen-initiated ballot issues that will not appear in the Nov. 4 general election after backers were not able to obtain sufficient signatures by the July 18 deadline.

A legislative referendum that would have allowed the top-two candidates in a primary election to continue on to the general election in some races will not appear on the ballot because it was stopped by the Montana Supreme Court.

One of the two ballot issues in this year’s election is a constitutional amendment that would simply change the name of the State Auditor to the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance.

Supporters say the name change will help Montanans know where to turn to for certain kinds of help. Opponents believe the Montana Constitution should never be changed without a highly compelling reason.

The second ballot issue is more contentious and bipartisan in nature — a legislative referendum that proposes ending voter registration on the Friday before Election Day. The wording of the ballot issue refers to the National Voter Registration Act, but that federal regulation allows voter registration right up into Election Day.

Speaking in support of LR-126, Sen. Jeff Essman, R-Billings, Rep. Gordon Vance, R-Bozeman, and Rosebud County Clerk and Recorder Geraldine Custer say the change will help election officers get their job done more efficiently and accurately, while helping the public learn about election outcomes in a timely manner.

Speaking in opposition, Sen. Sharon Stewart-Peregoy, D-Crow Agency, and Rep. Jean Price, D-Great Falls, say Montana has some of the best-run elections in the U.S., and eliminating voter registration on Election Day threatens democracy by placing an unfair hurdle in front of voters who need to register, particularly returning veterans, seniors, disabled people and young people voting for the first time.