Election season is here, and each race is as important as the next in shaping Real Estate’s future. Informed votes are crucial. The GAC will publish the Election Voter Guide in September. Keep an eye out for that!

If you are not registered to vote at your current address, please go to your local county election office to update your voter information. We are hard at work, ensuring the REALTOR® voice is well-represented and valued.

• Candidate Interviews o Over the next three months, we will be bringing in Candidates running for office in GAR’s jurisdiction to hear their stump speech and ask industry specific questions. If we determine that the candidate can effectively represent our interests as an elected official, we will support their campaign.
• Consumer Advocacy Outreach Grant o We have partnered with the Billings and Helena Association of REALTORS® to spearhead a consumer awareness campaign to raise awareness and applications for the Property Tax relief programs available to Montana Residents. We will build a landing page for consumers to learn about these programs and easily apply, send out one-page flyers to all REALTORS®—for physical and electronic dissemination, put together a social media ad campaign, and send out mailers to Montana residents that meet program requirements.
• Local Political Coordinator (LPC) Program o The GAC is looking for politically savvy, knowledgeable, and well-connected REALTORS® who live or work in Beaverhead, Madison, Park, Sweet Grass, and Wheatland Counties to help monitor the policies and initiatives in their respective area. This program will ensure that every government body in Southwest Montana seeks out GAR’s perspective and passes Real Estate friendly legislation.

Ballot Initiatives

• Constitutional Initiatives 126 and 127 – Rank Choice Voting: If approved, elections will be non-partisan and require a simple majority of votes be won by one candidate rather than a plurality.
• Beaverhead, Madison, and Gallatin County voters approved the Local Government Review: In the general election on November 5th, voters will appoint seven-member commissions to review the efficacy of their county governments.
• Bozeman, Dillon, Ennis, Harlowton, Judith Gap, Sheridan, Virginia City, and West Yellowstone approved to conduct a Local Government Review: On November 5th, voters will appoint commissioners for their city government study.
• Applications to serve on either county or city Local Government Review committees are due by August 12th.
• Livingston approved Referendum R-002: During the general election, qualified electors will decide whether to adopt the current Growth Policy.
• Zoning Code Re-Writes: Between July and December, County and City governments across the state will vote to approve State mandated zoning code changes.