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Transparent Election Initiative Launches Signature Collection for “The Montana Plan” Ballot Initiative
HELENA, Montana — The Transparent Election Initiative (TEI) announced that it has received official petition sheets from the Montana Secretary of State for Initiative I-194, the statutory version of “The Montana Plan,” allowing the campaign to begin collecting signatures to place the initiative on the November 3 ballot.
The statutory initiative — now designated Initiative I-194 — was found legally sufficient by the Attorney General and transmitted to the Secretary of State’s office for petition preparation and circulation.
If passed in November, “The Montana Plan” would clarify that the powers granted by the State of Montana to corporations and other artificial entities do not include the power to spend money to influence elections.
TEI leaders say the campaign is ready to launch immediately. More than 600 volunteers across Montana have already signed up to help collect signatures in every county in the state, positioning the campaign to move quickly as signature gathering begins statewide.
“We’re grateful to the Attorney General and the Secretary of State for their work reviewing The Montana Plan,” said Jeff Mangan, former Montana Commissioner of Political Practices and founder of the Transparent Election Initiative. “With Initiative I-194 now cleared for signature collection, Montanans will have the opportunity to decide whether corporations and other artificial entities should be able to spend money influencing their elections.”
The campaign also noted that the constitutional version of the proposal (Ballot Measure No. 9) was rejected as legally insufficient — a determination the initiative’s sponsors say they will challenge before the Montana Supreme Court.
“We strongly disagree with the legal sufficiency ruling on the constitutional measure and intend to appeal it,” Mangan said. “Montanans deserve the right to vote on whether the principle that political rights belong to natural persons — not corporations — should be enshrined in their constitution.”
The Montana Plan is now moving from theory into action. “Our volunteers are ready,” Mangan emphasized. “From Glendive to Eureka, Montanans are prepared to collect signatures and put this question directly to the voters.”
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