OLLI at MSU Friday Forum to report on proposed statewide ballot initiatives Oct. 9

BOZEMAN - The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Montana State University will host a Friday Forum on Oct. 9 to highlight proposed statewide initiatives that will appear on Montanans' ballots this November. The free, public event will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. online via Zoom.

Bonnie Lorenzen, president of the League of Women Voters of Montana, will present an overview of three initiatives as part of an opportunity for Montana residents to engage in direct democracy:

• Constitutional Initiative 132 proposes amending the Montana Constitution to require that judicial elections remain nonpartisan.
• Constitutional Initiative 133, if passed, would require impartial, predictable, open and timely processes for ballot issues, including approving petitions and ballot statements, resolving legal challenges and verifying signatures. The state would allow ample time for signature gathering and for voters to withdraw their signatures, in addition to prohibiting disqualification of petitions because of minor issues.
• Initiative 194 proposes limiting the powers of artificial persons, which include nonprofits, trusts, partnerships, corporations, trade associations and unincorporated associations conducting business in Montana. These artificial powers would not be able to contribute anything of value to candidate elections, supporting or opposing political parties and state or local ballot issues. Violation of the act would mean forfeiting doing business in Montana, though business privileges could be restored.

More information on the initiatives and other Montana ballot measures is available on the Montana Secretary of State website.

During the forum, Lorenzen will be joined by additional League of Women Voters members and community leaders, including Jeff Mangan, former Montana commissioner of political practices, to answer participant questions on the measures as time permits. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization that works to protect and expand voting rights, ensuring that citizens make informed choices at the ballot.

Participants must register for the Friday Forum no later than 11 a.m. Oct. 9 and can do so online at montana.edu/olli/offerings or online via Zoom. Upon registration confirmation, participants will receive an email with the Zoom link and instructions to join the forum.

OLLI at MSU is a program of Academic Outreach. Friday Forums offer discussions on timely local and regional topics on the second Friday of each month from September to May.