Montana Data Center Vote Battle | Butte News

In a high-stakes legal showdown in Butte, Montana, a grassroots group called 406 People First is fighting to get voters’ approval on whether to build a new data center — but they’re locked in a battle with the county over missed deadlines. The group was told the wrong deadline by the county and filed their petition after the July 13th state cutoff, only to be shut down by a district judge who ruled the county’s error wasn’t legally excusable. Undeterred, they’re now appealing to the Montana Supreme Court, arguing the state constitution grants citizens strong initiative powers that were unfairly blocked. With the November election looming, both sides are circling — the group wants the ballot measure on the table, while the county insists it’s just following the law. A potential special election or settlement could still save the day — but for now, the fate of this local vote hangs in the balance. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/310e363ddfe76a6a