Anti-Trap Initiative Qualifies for Montana’s November Ballot

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — An initiative seeking to ban traps and snares on public lands has qualified for the November ballot.

Secretary of State Linda McCulloch certified Initiative 177 on Thursday after it surpassed the 24,175 signatures required. In all, backers say they submitted nearly 30,000 signatures.

If approved by voters, the initiative would prohibit commercial and recreational use of traps and snares on public lands. Backers sought to qualify a similar measure six years ago but failed to collect enough signatures.

I-177 is the second initiative to qualify for the Nov. 8 ballot, with several other measures still undergoing verification of signatures by county elections officials.

In May, a victims' rights initiative known as Marsy's Law was the first to make it on the ballot. The measure, known as CI-116, would expand rights to crime victims and their families.