Early results in for ballot initiatives

Montana – On the website of the Montana Secretary of State, preliminary results for the two ballot measures have been posted. These results are preliminary since ballots are still being counted.

At the time this article was written, 82% of voters had approved Constitutional Amendment Number 48, which deals with the privacy of electronic data and communications. Voters in 18% of the elections responded “no.”

“C-48 is a constitutional amendment to alter Article II, Section 11 of the Montana Constitution to specifically protect electronic data and communications against excessive search and seizure,” according to the proposal’s ballot language.

Ken Bogner, a state senator from Montana, said that if it is approved, it will take effect on July 1st, 2023.

According to preliminary results, 52% of voters opposed the Born Alive proposal, while 48% stated they did.

The ballot language for the initiative says:

“This Act legally protects born-alive infants by imposing criminal penalties on health care providers who do not act to preserve the life of such infants, including infants born during an attempted abortion. A born-alive infant is entitled to medically appropriate care and treatment. A health care provider shall take medically appropriate and reasonable actions to preserve the life and health of the infant.”

Additionally, it states that medical professionals who fail to take reasonable and medically acceptable action may be subject to a fine of up to $50,000, a jail sentence of up to 20 years, or both.

If approved, it would take effect on January 1, 2023.