HELENA – The Montana Secretary of State’s Office has certified two citizen initiatives for the Nov. 6 election.
Secretary Corey Stapleton wrote on Twitter that initiatives to raise the tobacco tax and set stricter cleanup standards for new hard-rock mines have qualified for the ballot.
Director of Elections and Voter Services Dana Corson confirmed Thursday that the measures will appear on the ballot.
One would raise the tax on tobacco products to pay for the state’s share of Medicaid expansion, which expires next year if state lawmakers don’t extend it.
The other would require future mines to make plans that avoid the perpetual cleanup of polluted water after the mines shut down.
Voters also will decide on legislative referendums to restrict who can collect absentee ballots and to extend a property tax supporting the university system.