This database consolidates and tracks litigation concerning the effect of the pandemic on election law. The purpose of this tool is to provide an interactive list of relevant cases that can be searched by issue, court, status, and jurisdiction.
Case Details
New Approach Montana v. Montana
Closed
New Approach Montana v. Montana, No. XBDV-2020-444 (Mont. Dist. Ct., Lewis & Clark Cnty.) |
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| Case Summary | The Montana Constitution permits citizens to enact laws by initiative, but sets forth requirements for collecting and submitting signatures. New Approach Montana alleges emergency circumstances relating to the coronavirus pandemic nullifies its ability to gather the signatures required to qualify two initiatives for the 2020 ballot. New Approach Montana filed this lawsuit seeking temporary authority to obtain electronic signatures in support of their petition to place a Constitutional Initiative and Statutory Initiative on the 2020 ballet, and suspension of enforcement of certain statutory requirements and deadlines governing the initiative process. | |
| Filed | 04/06/2020 | |
| State | Montana | |
| Type of Court | State | |
| Status | Closed (Court denied plaintiff's request for injunctive relief to obtain electronic signatures in support of their petition to place a Constitutional Initiative and Statutory Initiative on the 22 ballet, and to suspend of enforcement of certain statutory requirements and deadlines governing the initiative process.) | |
| Last Updated | 03/13/2021 | |
| Issue Tag(s) | Petition Signature Requirement (E-signatures, Witness/Notary, Deadline/Time to Collect) | |
| Complaint(s) | 04/06/2020: Complaint filed. | |
| Dispositive Ruling(s) | 04/30/2020: Order/Ruling, The court denied Plaintiffs' emergency motion for declaratory and injunctive relief, stating it "is not inclined to invade the role of the executive or legislative branches." The court states the Plaintiffs should "approach the Governor's Office for a more formal request for the desired relief." Additionally, the court concludes the Plaintiffs' electronic signature proposal fails to meet state statutory requirements for electronic signatures | |
