ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE MCGRATH
STATE OF MONTANA

FOR RELEASE: September 13, 2006

CONTACT: Lynn Solomon, 444-0582 or Judy Beck, 444-5774

McGrath, Johnson Issue Statement on Ballot-Measure Order

HELENA – Attorney General Mike McGrath and Secretary of State Brad Johnson Wednesday released the following statement in relation to the order (PDF) issued by District Court Judge Dirk M. Sandefur.

In his order, Judge Sandefur found that the signature-gathering process used on ballot measures CI-97, CI-98 and I-154 was "permeated by a pervasive and general pattern and practice of fraud and procedural non-compliance," and he invalidated signatures gathered by a number of out-of-state signature gatherers.

Montana's initiative process is driven by Montana citizens, and it is essential that they have faith in every step of the of the ballot-measure process.

Today, Judge Sandefur found that fraudulent activity was pervasive in the signature-gathering process.

The state does not plan to appeal.