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Montana · November 3, 2026 general election · Statewide ballot measure

CI-133: what your vote means

Right to initiative and referendum. On every Montana ballot. Official sources checked October 22, 2026.

CI-133 · Initiated constitutional amendment

Right to initiative and referendum

Official ballot title (quoted exactly)

The Montana constitution reserves to the people the powers of initiative and referendum. CI-133 amends the constitution to secure this fundamental right from interference by the government. Specifically, CI-133 requires impartial, predictable, open, and timely processes for ballot issues. Petitions and ballot statements must be approved within 90 days of the initial submission, and legal challenges to ballot qualification must be resolved before the deadline for finalizing ballots. CI-133 requires the state to allow ample time for signature gathering, prohibits disqualification of petitions because of minor or technical issues, allows voters to withdraw their signatures if they so choose, and prohibits the use of government resources to support or oppose a ballot measure.

Ballot language as printed in the Secretary of State’s 2026 Voter Information Pamphlet.

A YES vote means:

The constitution would make initiative and referendum a fundamental right that government may burden only with a compelling interest by the least restrictive means. It would also set deadlines and standards for reviewing, qualifying, and challenging ballot issues.

A NO vote means:

The constitution would not be changed, and the current statutory process for reviewing and qualifying ballot issues would continue.

What it would change

  • Who is affected: ballot issue sponsors, petition signers, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and the courts.
  • Review of a proposed ballot issue and resolution of legal challenges would have to finish within 90 days of initial submission.
  • Petitions and signatures could not be invalidated for technical or minor deficiencies, and signers could withdraw their signatures up to the filing deadline.
  • Government resources could not be used to support or oppose a ballot issue; the amendment is self-executing and effective on approval.
  • Fiscal impact: No official fiscal statement is printed for this measure in the Secretary of State’s 2026 Voter Information Pamphlet.

Official arguments, summarized

Short neutral summaries of the arguments printed in the official voters’ pamphlet. The committees that wrote them are responsible for their content. Read the full text at the link below.

Argument for

Supporters say it keeps government from interfering with citizens’ right to propose and vote on laws and requires a timely, transparent ballot process.

Written by: Raphael Graybill, Jason Small, Tara Veazey (approval committee)

Argument against

Opponents say the current process works, and that the amendment would limit the review officials and courts now give to flawed measures and make it easier for well-funded interests to qualify measures.

Written by: Sen. Wylie Galt, Randy Brodehl, Rep. Greg Overstreet and others (rejection committee)

Montana Secretary of State: 2026 Voter Information Pamphlet

Who supports it and who opposes it

These lists come from official campaign filings (registered committees) and public endorsements, each linked to its source. They are not complete, and SaveYourState does not endorse anyone listed. Lists checked October 30, 2026.

Who supports it

Not yet compiled

Who opposes it

Official sources

SaveYourState is independent and nonpartisan, not a government site, and does not take positions on ballot measures. This explainer describes effects only, using the official ballot title, explanatory statement, full text, and fiscal impact statement. If anything here differs from those documents, the official documents control.