The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 13, 2023
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
A bipartisan group in Montana passed a critical court test last month for a Nov. 2024 ballot measure reforming the state’s election system, implementing a “top 4” open primary system.
Montanans for Election Reform needs 60,000 signatures to place Ballot Initiative 12 on next year’s ballot. BI-12 would constitutionally change Montana’s primary system to a single ballot open primary similar to Alaska’s, where major party, 3rd party and independent candidates appear on a single ballot, and the top four candidates advance to the general election. The Montana Supreme Court ruled in November that BI-12 is constitutional. A second initiative, BI-13, would require that candidates win with a majority, not just a plurality, which could necessitate run-off elections.
Ballot Issue #12
Subject: Amends the Montana Constitution to provide a top-four primary election open to all voters and candidates followed by a general election. All candidates appear on a single primary election ballot, and the four candidates receiving the most votes advance to the general election. The ballot may list a candidate’s political party preference, but a candidate is not required to be nominated by a political party to qualify for the ballot. If candidates are required to gather signatures, the number required may not exceed five percent of the votes received by the winning candidate in the last election. The amendment applies to the elections for governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, state representative, state senator, United State representative, United States Senator, and other offices a provided by law.
Ballot Issue #13
Subject: Amends the Montana Constitution to provide that elections for certain offices must be decided by majority vote as determined as provided by law rather than by a plurality or the largest amount of the votes. If it cannot be determined who received a majority of votes because two or more candidates are tied, then the winner of the election will be determined as provided by law. This act applies to elections for governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, state representative, state senator, United States representative, United States Senator, and other offices as provided by law.
While open primary ballots are lengthy, they offer a wider array of choices for voters, allow ALL voters to participate – not just the party faithful, and often result in more moderate winners.
Unlike Alaska’s system, the Montana proposition does not specify use of ranked choice voting, which is often used with open primaries. Instead, it allows the legislature to specify what system to use, though a bill passed earlier this year prohibits the use of ranked choice in Montana elections.
Ten percent of signatures must come from each of 40 state legislative districts by June 21st to qualify
We have language of the initiatives at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Daily Montanan – Proposal to change primary elections on 2024 ballot advances with MTSupCo order
Missoula Current – PROPOSED BALLOT MEASURES WOULD OVERHAUL MONTANA ELECTION SYSTEM
Montana Free Press – Montana Supreme Court sides with backers of top-four primary ballot initiative, overrules attorney general
State of Montana SOS – 2024 Submitted Ballot Initiatives
Groups Taking Action:
Montanans for Election Reform, Open Primaries, RCV Montana, League of Women Voters MT
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#Democracy #DemocracyNews #OpenPrimaries #Montana #MontanaPolitics