Montana to Vote on Nonpartisan Judicial Elections

State voters will decide on Constitutional Initiative 132 this November regarding party labels in judicial races.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Political Parties

Montana to Vote on Nonpartisan Judicial Elections

Live Poll

Should Montana judicial elections remain strictly nonpartisan rather than including party labels?

Montana voters will head to the polls on November 3, 2026, to decide the fate of Constitutional Initiative 132. The measure seeks to require that all judicial elections in the state be conducted on a nonpartisan basis.

Why it matters

The campaign for the initiative aims to formally resolve a long-standing dispute regarding the use of party labels for judicial candidates. By moving to a nonpartisan system, proponents hope to clarify the election process for the state judiciary.

Constitutional Initiative 132 is the official designation for the proposed change to judicial election procedures. The measure follows a collection of signatures required to place the initiative on the state ballot for voter consideration.

The players

Montana Republican Party

This political organization represents the interests of the Republican Party within Montana and actively participates in statewide legislative and election debates.

The details

The campaign behind Constitutional Initiative 132 successfully collected enough signatures to place the proposal before voters this fall. The initiative is intended to settle the debate over whether party labels should be permitted for candidates seeking judicial seats in Montana.

April 2026: The Montana Republican Party officially urged voters against signing the campaign petition.
November 3, 2026: Montana voters will cast their ballots on Constitutional Initiative 132.

Political Context

Opponents of the initiative, led by the Montana Republican Party, have voiced significant opposition to the measure. The party publicly discouraged voters from signing the petition, signaling a partisan divide over the future of the state's judicial selection process.

If the initiative passes, voters will no longer see party labels associated with judicial candidates on their ballots in future cycles. This change will alter the current format of judicial contests and how residents evaluate candidates for state courts.

The takeaway

The upcoming vote represents a shift in how Montana handles its judicial branch elections. Voters should review the specific ballot language to understand how the removal of party labels may influence their local voting experience.