Voters Will Get the Chance to Reject Political Interference in State Courts and Direct Democracy
Helena, MT – Two consequential ballot measures were officially certified to appear on the November ballot in Montana last week, following overwhelming enthusiasm from voters for measures that will keep partisan politics out of the state’s courts and direct democracy process.
The Montanans for Nonpartisan Courts campaign succeeded in placing a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment on the ballot this fall that would enshrine nonpartisan judicial elections in the state constitution, so that judges stay accountable to the constitution, not political parties and their money. And the Montanans Decide campaign has put forth a measure that would act as a check on government overreach by strengthening the ballot measure process.
The Fairness Project, the national progressive ballot measure organization, is backing both impressive grassroots efforts to put these critical measures before voters and ensure that citizens have a say in the future of their state institutions.
“Montanans want impartiality and transparency, not money-driven politics, when it comes to their sacred democratic institutions. Thanks to the tireless efforts of these citizen-led campaigns, Montana voters will now get the opportunity to reject government overreach and keep power in the hands of the people,” said Hannah Ledford, Executive Director of the Fairness Project.
The amendment advanced by Montanans for Nonpartisan Courts, known as CI-132, would defend Montana’s long tradition of upholding an independent court system at a time when more and more states are seeing politics inserted into judicial elections. Most Montanans interact with judges in family, traffic, civil, and criminal courts — mixing politics with these cases will hurt Montanans who just want a fair and impartial hearing without worrying about politics.
The measure has robust public support, having qualified for the ballot in June with 103,000 signatures, 170% of the state-mandated minimum.
CI-133, put forth by the Montanans Decide campaign, protects Montana’s citizen-led ballot measure process from the types of attacks that the Fairness Project has been tracking nationwide. It would ensure Montanans have a fair, transparent, and timely ballot measure process so that citizens can maintain their right to propose and vote on laws that affect their lives, without the government taking sides or using taxpayer dollars to sway votes.
The Fairness Project tracks attempts by politicians to undermine the ballot measure process in state capitols across the country. Last year, the organization released a report, Direct Democracy Under Assault, which revealed the alarming increase in the number of attacks as well as illuminating case studies of some of the most flagrant instances of politicians attacking direct democracy. In addition to the campaigns in Montana, the Fairness Project is currently backing multiple efforts to protect the ballot measure process, strengthen direct democracy, protect state government from capture by corporate interests, and maintain impartial state courts.
“We’re confident that Montana voters will head to the polls in November and protect their sacred democratic institutions.” Ledford concluded.