20-3-101. Election and qualifications. (1) A superintendent of public instruction for the state of Montana must be elected by the qualified electors of the state at the general election preceding the expiration of the term of office of the incumbent.

(2) A person is qualified to assume the office of superintendent of public instruction who:

(a) is 25 years of age or older at the time of election;

(b) has resided within the state for the 2 years preceding the election;

(c) holds at least a bachelor's degree from any unit of the Montana university system or from an institution recognized as equivalent by the board of public education for teacher certification purposes; and

(d) otherwise possesses the qualifications for office that are required by The Constitution of the State of Montana.