Mont. Code § 13-27-304
The county official verifying the number of registered electors signing the petition shall forward it to the secretary of state by certified mail with a certificate in substantially the following form attached:
To the Honorable ____________, Secretary of State of the state of Montana:
I, ____________, ___________ (title) of the County of __________, certify that I have examined the attached sheets of the petition for (statutory referendum, statutory initiative, constitutional convention initiative, or constitutional initiative) No. ____ in the manner prescribed by law; and I believe that ____ (number) signatures in (Legislative Representative District No. ____ or the County of ____) (repeat for each district or county included in sheet or section) are valid; and I further certify that the affidavit of the signature gatherer of the petition is attached.
Signed:______________ (Date)_______________ (Signature)
Seal_________________________ (Title)
§ 13-27-304, MCA
Applicability - Laws 2023, c. 647: Section 62 of Laws 2023, Ch. 647 provides:
"(1) [This act] applies to statewide ballot issues submitted to the secretary of state on or after [the effective date of this act].
"(2) [This act] applies to ballot issues submitted to the county election administrator for approval of the form of the petition required by 7-5-132 on or after [the effective date of this act].
"(3) [This act] applies to a petition prepared pursuant to 7-7-2224 that is filed with the election administrator under 7-7-2225 on or after [the effective date of this act]."