SIGNATURE GATHERING ENDS TODAY
Outfitter Initiative Close to Qualifying for Ballot
By Bill Schneider, 7-20-10
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| Photo courtesy of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Department. | |
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Updated July 20, 8 pm: Montana Secretary of State Linda McColloch announced today that I-161 did indeed qualify for the general election ballot and the voters will decide its fate on November 2.
The controversial initiative that would eliminate outfitter set-aside big game licenses is breathtakingly close to making it on the ballot for the November 2 general election.
Montana law requires ballot initiative backers to obtain signatures from 5 percent of the total number of qualified voters in Montana, including 5 percent of the voters in each of 34 legislative house districts and, in 2010, a total of 24,337 qualified signatures.
Right now, 1-161 backers have 23,994 qualified signatures from 32 districts.
Today, July 16, is the deadline for counties to submit signatures to the Secretary of State’s office for verification, and according to communications director Terri Knapp, counties traditionally send in a significant number of signatures on the last day. Plus, she said they have some signatures already on hand that have not yet been verified.
Knapp said it would be sometime next week before the Secretary of State can confirm whether or not 1-161 makes it on the ballot.
Earlier coverage of the embattled ballot measure:
Montana Outfitter-sponsored Big Game Licenses in the Crosshairs
Outfitter Initiative Foreshadows Much Bigger Issue, Saving Hunting
Montana’s Anti-outfitter Initiative Picks Up Heavy Duty Opposition
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