This bill amends Section 13-27-302 of the Montana Code Annotated to revise the certification process for petition signatures by introducing a specific filing timeline. It requires that the signature gatherer or an agent submit an affidavit, along with the corresponding signature sheet, to the county election administrator within four weeks of the date of the first collected signature. The bill mandates that upon submission, the election administrator must date and time stamp the affidavit, register it in a log, and provide a receipt to the signature gatherer or their agent.

Additionally, if the affidavit and signature sheet are not submitted within the specified four-week period, the county election administrator is required to reject the filing and will not process it further. This change aims to streamline the signature certification process and ensure timely submissions, thereby enhancing the integrity of the petitioning process in Montana. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-27-302
SB0226_1(1): 13-27-302
SB0226_1(2): 13-27-302
SB0226_1(3): 13-27-302
SB0226_1(4): 13-27-302
SB0226_1(5): 13-27-302
SB0226_1(6): 13-27-302
SB0226_1: 13-27-302
SB0226_2(1): 13-27-302
SB0226_2(2): 13-27-302
SB0226_2(3): 13-27-302
SB0226_2(4): 13-27-302
SB0226_2(5): 13-27-302
SB0226_2(6): 13-27-302
SB0226_2(7): 13-27-302
SB0226_2: 13-27-302