House Bill No. [insert number] proposes significant changes to the judicial election laws in Montana, specifically regarding the nomination and election of Supreme Court justices and the Chief Justice. The bill mandates that these candidates be nominated and elected on a partisan ballot, allowing them to accept endorsements and contributions from political parties. Additionally, candidates who choose not to affiliate with a political party must appear on the ballot as "undisclosed," with only one such candidate permitted to advance to the general election. The bill also clarifies that each vacancy for a Supreme Court justice is treated as a separate office for election purposes.

The bill amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), including provisions for the declaration of nomination, ballot preparation, and the appearance of candidates' names on ballots. Notably, it introduces a new section that allows candidates for Supreme Court justice or Chief Justice to accept political endorsements, which was previously restricted. The changes aim to enhance the transparency and competitiveness of judicial elections while ensuring that voters are informed about the candidates' political affiliations. The act will apply to elections occurring after its effective date.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 3-2-101, 13-10-201, 13-10-209, 13-12-203, 13-14-111, 13-14-211, 13-14-212, 13-14-213, 13-35-231
HB0751_1(1): 3-2-101, 13-10-201, 13-10-209, 13-12-203, 13-14-111, 13-14-211, 13-14-212, 13-14-213, 13-35-231
HB0751_1(2): 3-2-101, 13-10-201, 13-10-209, 13-12-203, 13-14-111, 13-14-211, 13-14-212, 13-14-213, 13-35-231
HB0751_1(3): 3-2-101, 13-10-201, 13-10-209, 13-12-203, 13-14-111, 13-14-211, 13-14-212, 13-14-213, 13-35-231
HB0751_1(4): 3-2-101, 13-10-201, 13-10-209, 13-12-203, 13-14-111, 13-14-211, 13-14-212, 13-14-213, 13-35-231
HB0751_1: 3-2-101, 13-10-201, 13-10-209, 13-12-203, 13-14-111, 13-14-211, 13-14-212, 13-14-213, 13-35-231