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A ballot in Montana requiring an equal number of men and women to serve in the state Legislature may come on the November ballot

The petition was approved last Tuesday by the Montana secretary of state’s office. It would mandate the Legislature

reconstruct itself to have equal numbers of men and women. Women currently hold 41/150 of the seats.

The issue is still several steps away from becoming law. Even if it does, the bill does not make it clear how the reconstruction will take place. The bill states the Legislature “shall be composed of fifty percent men and fifty percent women”, and the revamping will take place “on or before the second general legislative election held after the next redistricting”.

That is if the initiative gets on the ballot, and is approved. For it to make it on the November ballot, the measure’s sponsor John Marshall and supporters must gain signatures from 10% of the qualified registered voters, including 10% in each of the 40 house counties.

In total, it requires 48,349 signatures by June 29 to appear on the ballot in November.