13-10-609. County official to forward verified sheets. (1) The county official verifying the number of registered electors signing the petition shall forward it to the secretary of state by certified mail with a certificate in substantially the following form attached:

To the Honorable ____________, Secretary of State of the state of Montana:

I, ____________, ___________ (title) of the County of __________, certify that I have examined the attached sheets of the petition to qualify the ____________ political party to nominate its candidates by primary election in the manner prescribed by law; and I believe that ____ (number) signatures in (Legislative Representative District No. ____) (repeat for each district included in sheet or section) are valid; and I further certify that the affidavit of the signature gatherer of the petition is attached.

Signed:______________ (Date) _______________ (Signature)

Seal _________________________ (Title)

(2) The county official verifying the number of registered electors signing the petition shall ensure that it is received by the secretary of state at least 95 days before the date of the primary.