WTF406 is presenting both sides of the CI-126/CI-127 ballot initiatives to help our readers make a decision this election.
What is Citizens’ Initiative 126 (CI-126)?
CI-126 will change primary elections so that all qualified candidates of all parties would appear on one single ballot in June and all voters will have the freedom to choose between them. The top four candidates would then move on to the November election, where voters would choose between them.
Voters in Montana are currently forced to choose one party’s ballot to vote in primary elections – even though they might prefer candidates from different parties for different offices. CI-126 changes that so you can vote for the candidate you like best, regardless of party.
CI-126 gives Montana voters:
- Better choices on the ballot
- More freedom to vote for the person, not the party
- More voice in every tax-payer funded election
- Greater accountability over elected officials
CI-126 is endorsed by:
- Wild Montana
- Forward Montana
- Montana Federation of Public Employees
- Montana Trial Lawyers Association
- Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana
- Montana Women Vote
- MontPIRG
- Montana AFL-CIO
- Western Native Voice Action Fund
- Northern Plains Resource Council
- Montana Alliance for Retired Americans
- SEIU 775
- Veterans for Montana Voters
- Former Governor Steve Bullock
- Former Secretary of State Mike Cooney
- Former Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau
- Former Attorney General Tim Fox
- Former Lieutenant Governor Mike Cooney
- And many more
CI-126 is a simple, common-sense change that protects our democracy and gives us more responsive and representative government. We encourage every Montana voter to vote YES on CI-126 so we have better choices, more voice, and greater accountability in our elections.
What is Citizens’ Initiative 127 (CI-127)?
CI-127 requires candidates to receive a majority vote to win a General election instead of electing candidates who simply win the largest number of votes, as is current law. This measure would ensure that candidates have to appeal to a majority of their constituents by earning the support of over 50% of voters.
Majority-winner elections lead to more responsive leaders who are more representative of the majority of Montanans. There are two mechanisms for deciding a majority winner if one candidate does not receive more than 50% of the vote: a traditional runoff election or an instant runoff election.
Majority-winner elections empower voters to hold politicians accountable and force our elected officials to focus on finding solutions that benefit a majority of citizens. We encourage voters to choose majority-winner elections and vote YES on CI-127.
-Kendra Miller and Lauren Caldwell