A citizens' initiative seeking to expand the rights of Montana crime victims and their families has qualified for the November ballot.

Secretary of State officials said Friday that advocates for the measure known as Marsy's Law have collected the minimum number of signatures required — 48,349 gathered from 40 legislative districts — to place the constitutional amendment on the ballot.

Advocates' signature-gathering efforts were relatively speedy, and the measure took about five months in all to qualify. It is the first of 10 initiatives currently in circulation to qualify for the November ballot.

The initiative would require authorities to inform victims or their families of key developments in a case and accord them the right to be heard in proceedings.

If ratified by voters, Montana would join California and Illinois in enacting the measure.

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