Montana Title 2. Government Structure and Administration § 2-16-615. Filing of recall petitions--mandamus for refusal

(1) Recall petitions for elected officers shall be filed with the official who is provided by law to accept the declaration of nomination or petition for nomination for such office. Recall petitions for appointed state officers shall be filed with the secretary of state and for appointed county or municipal officers shall be filed with the county election administrator. Recall petitions for appointed officers from other political subdivisions shall be filed with the county election administrator if the boundaries of the political subdivisions lie wholly within one county or otherwise with the secretary of state.

(2) If the secretary of state, county election administrator or other filing official refuses to accept and file any petition for recall with the proper number of signatures of qualified electors, any elector may within 10 days after such refusal apply to the district court for a writ of mandamus. If it is determined that the petition is sufficient, the district court shall order the petition to be filed with a certified copy of the writ attached thereto, as of the date when it was originally offered for filing. On a showing that any filed petition is not sufficient, the court may enjoin certification, printing, or recall election.

(3) All such suits or appeals therefrom shall be advanced on the court docket and heard and decided by the court as expeditiously as possible.

(4) Any aggrieved party may file an appeal within 10 days after any adverse order or decision as provided by law.