Government-Politics
HELENA — The Transparent Election Initiative announced Tuesday that The Montana Plan, Initiative 194, is set to qualify for the November ballot after an all-volunteer campaign collected nearly 50,000 signatures from voters in all 56 Montana counties in just 13 weeks—far surpassing Montana's 30,121-signature statewide qualification threshold.
To qualify for the ballot, I-194 must receive 30,121 verified signatures statewide and meet Montana's geographic distribution requirement by collecting signatures equal to at least 5% of the vote cast for governor in 34 state House districts. As of Wednesday, June 10th, the Montana Secretary of State had verified 34,906 of the 37,475 signatures processed to date—already exceeding the statewide threshold—with approximately 10,000 additional signatures still awaiting review. The campaign is confident it has also met the geographic district requirement.
In an unprecedented feat in recent Montana history, The Montana Plan qualified the old-fashioned way: with volunteers. At a time when major ballot initiative campaigns rely heavily on paid signature-gathering operations, not a single person who collected a signature for The Montana Plan was paid to do so. Every signature was gathered by a Montanan who felt compelled to spend weekends and afternoons—rain or shine—talking with neighbors about the need to protect democracy from corporate and dark money influence.
The campaign was powered by more than 500 volunteer signature gatherers across the state and sustained by more than 40 community leads, who helped organize local and regional events and teams ranging from small groups of three to networks of more than 100 signature gatherers.
“This campaign has been powered by Montanans from the very beginning,” said Jeff Mangan, founder of the Transparent Election Initiative. “To the out-of-state corporate and special interests trying to spread disinformation about who we are and what we’re trying to accomplish: look at the power of this volunteer army. More than 500 Montanans gathered signatures in all 56 counties, without a single paid signature gatherer, and blew past the 30,121 signatures needed to qualify. That is what grassroots democracy looks like.”
The Montana Plan, I-194, is a proposed ballot initiative designed to restore democratic integrity by addressing corporate and dark money influence in elections. The measure draws a clear distinction between natural persons—real human beings—and artificial persons, such as corporations, that are created by the state. Supporters say the measure gives Montana voters a direct opportunity to strengthen election transparency and reaffirm the principle that democracy should be accountable to the public.
The Transparent Election Initiative said the scale and speed of the 13-week all-volunteer effort reflects broad grassroots support, growing public demand for constitutional reform, and Montana's fierce independent streak. Volunteers gathered signatures in communities large and small, across partisan and political lines, building a statewide campaign rooted in conversations between neighbors, local leaders, and voters.
“We know the road to November will be a tough fight,” Mangan said. “This is David versus Goliath. Corporate and special interests are going to spend millions of dollars on TV ads, mailers, and scare tactics trying to make Montanans afraid of their own power. But the way we win is the same way we got here: real Montanans, in real communities, having real conversations.
“Over the next six months, we’re going to be everywhere—answering questions, sharing the facts, and looking voters in the eye. The Montana Plan is about a simple principle: real people should govern, not artificial persons created on paper. A vote for The Montana Plan (I-194) is a vote to put Montanans back in charge of Montana elections.”
ABOUT THE TRANSPARENT ELECTION INITIATIVE & THE MONTANA PLAN PAC
The Transparent Election Initiative is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring democratic integrity by eliminating corporate and dark money influence in elections through reform and public education. The organization works nationwide, beginning in Montana and including efforts in Hawaii, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and other states. Learn more at transparentelection.org/about/philosophy.
The Montana Plan PAC is a Montana ballot initiative committee formed to support I-194, The Montana Plan, in the November 2026 election.
For more information, contact Jeff Mangan, Founder of Transparent Election Initiative at tei@transparentelection.org