The Honorable Christi Jacobsen

Montana Secretary of State

Montana Capitol Building, Rm. 260

P.O. Box 202801

Helena, MT 59620-2801

Re: Request for Poll of Legislators to Convene Special Session

Dear Secretary Jacobsen:

We, the undersigned Members of the Montana Legislature, hereby request that you poll

all Members of the Montana Legislature to determine whether a majority favors convening a

special session in order to increase transparency in judicial elections. Pursuant to Mont. Code

Ann. § 5-3-105(2), we declare following:

(a) The conditions warranting the call of a special session consist of an upcoming

election in November 2024 to fill two vacant seats on the Montana Supreme Court.

Absent reforms, Montana’s current “non-partisan” judicial election system will

deprive Montana voters of the most important information about the candidates

running for these seats: their party affiliation. As a result, Montana voters may

unknowingly cast their ballots for judicial candidates who do not share the voters’

worldview.

(b) The purpose of the proposed special session is to consider bills that would allow

judicial candidates to have their party affiliations appear on ballots, thereby providing

voters with important information they need to make informed choices when casting

their ballots.

Dated: ______________ ___________________________