Remote petition signature
A remote petition signature is a signature that is submitted remotely, as opposed to a signature that is signed in the presence of a petition circulator. Remote signatures are different from electronic signatures, where a petition could be signed virtually through electronic signature software.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, none of the 26 states with a process for citizen initiatives and/or referendums at the statewide level allowed signatures to be submitted remotely through email, though some states allowed hard copy petition sheets to be sent through the mail. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, ballot measure campaigns in some states have sought to collect electronic and remote signatures, in some cases filing lawsuits requesting the ability.
Remote petition signatures can refer to signatures for initiative and referendum petitions as well as candidate nominating petitions. Petitions may be signed remotely through printing out a petition sheet, signing it, and sending it back to a campaign or elections office either through the mail or through email.
Requirements by state
During the coronavirus pandemic, Arkansas, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. temporarily allowed for campaigns to collect and submit remote signatures. An executive order was also passed in Colorado temporarily allowing remote signature collection, but was ultimately struck down by the Colorado Supreme Court.
Remote petition signatures by state
The following table outlines states that allowed for remote petition signatures:
| Remote petition signatures | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Policy regarding remote petition signatures | Source | |
| Arkansas | On May 25, 2020, U.S. District Judge P.K. Holmes issued a preliminary injunction waiving the requirement that petition circulators physically witness signatures, thereby allowing sponsors of the Arkansas Independent Redistricting Commission Initiative to collect remote petition signatures. The judge declined to allow electronic signatures and declined to push back the signature deadline. | Miller et al v. Thurston | |
| Colorado | On May 17, 2020, Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D) signed an executive order that authorized the Colorado Secretary of State to establish temporary rules allowing for ballot initiative petitions to be signed through mail and email. This was ultimately struck down on July 1, 2020, meaning proponents needed to collect signatures in person. | Executive Order D 2020 065 | |
| Massachusetts | On April 29, 2020, Massachusetts became the first state to allow campaigns to collect electronic signatures and remote signatures, specifically, the four active campaigns targeting the 2020 ballot. | Supreme Judicial Court ruling | |
| Washington, D.C. | On May 5, 2020, the Washington, D.C. Council passed a bill that made changes to the petition process for 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation allowed petitions to be electronically distributed to circulators and scanned and electronically returned to proponents. Voters still needed to physically sign printed petitions. The bill also allowed circulators to sign petitions that they themselves are circulating. | Washington, D.C. Council Coronavirus Omnibus Temporary Amendment Act of 2020 | |
See also
Footnotes
