Initiative to Keep Montana’s Courts Impartial Qualifies for November Ballot
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2026
Contact: Caitie Butler
info@montanansfornonpartisancourts.com
Initiative to Keep Montana’s Courts Impartial Qualifies for November Ballot
CI-132 will preserve Montana’s nonpartisan judicial elections and keep courts impartial
Helena, Mont. – Yesterday, the Montana Secretary of State declared Constitutional Initiative 132 (CI-132) officially qualified for the November 2026 general election ballot via its website. CI-132 preserves nonpartisan judicial elections and ensures judges remain elected based on their record and qualifications, not politics.
“You don’t need to be a lawyer to understand that politics doesn’t belong in our courts and that we need to make sure judges are accountable to the law and the constitution, not political parties and their money,” said retired Dawson County Sheriff and U.S. Marshall Craig Anderson, who has endorsed CI-132 and serves on the initiative’s voter information pamphlet approval committee. “Justice shouldn't be for sale, and CI-132 helps keep politics and the money it runs on out of our courts.”
Montanans for Nonpartisan Courts, with the help of over 200 volunteers, submitted over 100,000 signatures from all 56 counties in June. The Secretary of State had until August 20 to tabulate valid signatures and certify the initiative for the November 3, 2026 ballot.
“Montanans for Nonpartisan Courts is thrilled to have CI-132 officially qualified following the hard work of so many Montanans who have gathered signatures, endorsed the initiative, and given their time and money to support this effort,” said Caitie Butler, spokesperson for Montanans for Nonpartisan Courts (MNC). “We look forward to talking with Montanans in every corner of the state about how important CI-132 is for Montanans who want fair and impartial courts.”
To learn more about CI-132, visit YesOn132.com.
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