California’s initiative process which allows the state’s voters to approve new measures into law may become more accessible to any registered voter with an Internet connection, if Assembly Bill 1117 is approved in the more traditional way under the dome at the State Capitol.
Passed this week by the State Assembly, AB 1117 by Assemblyman Tim Donnelly (R-Twin Peaks) will make it easier for a register voter to sign a petition in circulation to help qualify an initiative for the ballot by making the documents available in a printable format on the Secretary of State’s website. A supporter would be able to simply print out the petition, sign it and send it to the proponent.
Currently, the typical way a proponent gathers signatures to qualify an initiative is through paid signature gatherers, usually standing in front of a supermarket or in a shopping mall. Although, proponents, who must have 504,760 signatures to qualify an initiative statute or 807, 615 signatures to qualify a constitutional amendment, are allowed to post their own signature petitions online for supporters to sign.
"Californians can renew their driver’s licenses online, they can even register to vote online, but they cannot access an initiative petition online," said Donnelly in committee documents. "This bill streamlines the initiative and referendum process, by giving voters online access to initiative and referendum petitions currently in circulation."
According to an Assembly Floor analysis, the bill is supported by Common Cause, a national government accountability organization.
The Assembly Appropriations Committee estimated a cost of about $60,000 to the Secretary of State’s office for ensuring the petitions are correctly formatted and legal, a job they currently do not have to do.
