Montana voters have rejected the CI-126 initiative with a vote of 48.2% in favor and 51.8% against. The initiative aimed to implement a top-four primary election system where all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, would appear on a single ballot. The top four candidates with the most votes would then advance to the general election, with no requirement for candidates to be nominated by a political party. This new system would have applied to various positions, including governor, state representatives, and US Senators and Representatives.
The Associated Press called the results for CI-126 at 9:24 a.m. with 93% of the votes counted, confirming its defeat. If passed, this initiative would have fundamentally changed the election process in Montana by eliminating separate party-specific ballots and presenting voters with a single ballot with all candidates listed. Candidates would have had the opportunity to list a political party preference, but it would not have been considered an official endorsement by that party.
Ultimately, Montana voters have chosen to maintain the current primary election system, with separate ballots for different political parties. This result indicates a preference for the traditional way of conducting elections in the state. It remains to be seen if any similar initiatives will be proposed in the future, as advocates for election reform may continue to push for changes to the current system.
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