13-28-202. Form of petition. (1) A local government petition must be substantially in the form provided by this part. Clerical or technical errors that do not interfere with the ability to judge the sufficiency of signatures on the petition do not render a petition void.

(2) (a) Petition sheets may not exceed 8 1/2 x 14 inches in size. Separate sheets of a petition may be fastened in sections of not more than 25 sheets.

(b) Near the top of each sheet containing signature lines must be printed the number of the ordinance referred or the petition title. If signature lines are printed on both the front and back of a petition sheet, the information required above must appear on both the front and back of the sheet.

(c) The complete text of the issue proposed or referred must be attached to or contained within each signature sheet if sheets are circulated separately. The text of the issue must be in the format prescribed by the governing body pursuant to 7-5-103(1) and, unless otherwise provided by the governing body of the local government, use the style and language and form guide of the most recent edition of the bill drafting manual furnished by the legislative services division. If sheets are circulated in sections, the complete text of the issue must be attached to each section.

(3) An internet posting of petition language must include a statement that the petition language and format may not be modified. An internet posting must include an affidavit in substantially the same form as provided in 13-28-203.

(4) Unless otherwise provided by law, the following is substantially the form for a local government petition calling for approval or rejection of an ordinance:

PETITION TO PLACE [ORDINANCE NO.____ OR PROPOSED ORDINANCE NO. ____ ]
ON THE ELECTION BALLOT

(a) If [insert appropriate percentage of voters or appropriate number of voters] of [insert appropriate local government unit] voters sign this petition, this proposal will appear on the election ballot of [insert appropriate local government entity] to be conducted on [insert date of election]. If a majority of voters vote for this proposal at that election it will become law.

(b) We, the undersigned [insert appropriate local government entity] voters, propose that the county election administrator place the following proposal on the election ballot:

(Petition title written in conformity with 13-28-201)

(Yes and no statement written in conformity with 13-28-201)

(c) Voters are urged to read the complete text of the proposal, which appears (on the reverse side of, attached to, etc., as applicable) this sheet. A signature on this petition is only to put the proposal on the ballot and does not necessarily mean the signer agrees with the proposal.

(d)

WARNING

A person who purposefully signs a name other than the person's own to this petition, who signs more than once for the same issue at one election, or signs when not a legally registered Montana voter is subject to a $500 fine, 6 months in jail, or both.

(e) Each person is required to sign the person's name and list the person's address or telephone number in substantially the same manner as on the person's voter registration form or the signature will not be counted.

(5) Numbered lines must follow the heading. Each numbered line must contain spaces for the signature, date, residence address, and printed last name and first and middle initials of the signer. In place of a residence address, the signer may provide the signer's post-office address or the signer's home telephone number. An address provided on a petition by the signer that differs from the signer's address as shown on the signer's voter registration form may not be used as the only means to disqualify the signature of that petition signer.