Civics
HELENA — The Transparent Election Initiative (TEI) launched sign.montanaplan.org, a website designed to assist Montana voters with self-submitting their own signatures for ballot measure I-194, also called “The Montana Plan.” The petition aims to eliminate corporate political spending and dark money influence in Montana elections. The “Print, Sign, Submit” process is designed to make signature gathering more accessible to rural voters and households across Montana.
The new website provides a printable page and detailed instructions for signing and mailing in signatures. Registered Montana voters can review the initiative text, print and complete the official I-194 petition form and unsworn declaration, and mail both forms to The Montana Plan, P.O. Box 1953, Helena, MT 59624. TEI has confirmed with the Secretary of State that self-witnessed and mailed signatures are legal and valid.
“Every Montanan deserves to have their voice heard. 'Print, Sign, Submit' allows rural communities to stand up to dark money without traveling to an in-person signing location,” says Jeff Mangan, founder of the Transparent Election Initiative. “This process represents TEI's commitment to accessibility and representation of all Montana voters. It also allows those who simply want an easy way to sign and participate in direct democracy as afforded by Montana's Constitution!”
A sufficient number of signatures are necessary to place I-194 on the statewide ballot in November; signature provisions are not a vote for the measure. If passed, The Montana Plan would redefine the powers granted by the state of Montana to corporations and other artificial entities, preventing them from spending money to influence elections.
ABOUT THE TRANSPARENT ELECTION INITIATIVE
The Transparent Election Initiative is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring democratic integrity by eliminating corporate and dark money influence in elections through constitutional reform and public education.