Candidates in the primary election can gather signatures for ballot initiatives at polling places, but they'd better be careful about it. That’s the word today from Montana Commissioner of Political Practices, Jonathan Motl.
"It’s a tremendous right that we have here in Montana to discuss public policy issues through the initiative process. I think most Montanans really respect it and protect it. There’s nothing wrong with somebody being both a citizen and a candidate for public office."
Motl says candidates should generally avoid gathering initiative signatures at polling places where they’re on the ballot.
"But if they insist on doing that, then they can do that as long as they are solely acting as a citizen; there’s no campaign buttons, there’s nothing that they’re doing that would be construed as campaigning for their election. If somebody comes up to them, their response should immediately be: ‘I’m just here as a citizen gathering initiative signatures. This is not about my candidacy for office.'"
Motl says this is not a common problem in Montana.
A group supporting a ballot measure to require Montana’s investor-owned utilities to supply more electricity from renewable energy sources asked for the opinion.
