Ballot Question 2G changes Sections 38, 45, and 56 of the city charter to allow for electronic petitions and online electronic signing or endorsement of petitions. Rather than specify in the charter the details of valid electronic petitions, signatures or endorsements, the proposed charter language reads, “as permitted by Boulder Revised Code.”
Question 2G pertains only to petitions. Final votes on municipal measures will continue to be conducted by election administrators, usually the Boulder County Clerk’s office via mail ballots.
The Campaign Finance/Elections Working Group unanimously recommended putting 2G on the November ballot.
Recommendation: for the measure
This measure adds another option besides paper petitions for circulators of municipal petitions.
The city council heard from Denver election administrators who have provided e-Sign to petition circulators with electronic tablets in order to collect signatures. The e-Sign program eliminates electronically signing the same petition twice, eliminates invalid voting addresses, and even assists in verifying signatures. Denver finds many fewer bad signatures on electronic petitions than on paper petitions, thereby saving staff time for other election functions. Denver administrators also informed city council of the safeguards built into e-Sign to prevent hacking.
2G may reduce the number of paid signature gatherers, allowing smaller organizations with good ideas to offer ballot measures. 2G may also reduce the ugly sidewalk battles that we have seen recently between petition circulators and groups opposed to the initiatives.
The technical details of how to collect and process electronic signatures should not be in the city charter. Kudos to city council for not mucking up our charter with those details.
The more cities in Colorado that adopt e-Sign, the more likely that the state will allow e-Sign for state initiatives. The high signature requirement of “Raise the Bar” Amendment 71, passed in 2016, was overturned but then stayed on appeal. The effect of a high bar could be dampened with e-Sign. Online petitions would provide even more opportunity to surpass a high bar. Concerns about someone assuming another person’s identity are somewhat mitigated by the fact that the signers’ identities would be public info and a person could unsign a petition.
If 2G passes, get ready to be bombarded to sign electronic petitions.
“Website” for the Yes Side – a Change.org petition
https://www.change.org/p/boulder-city-council-allow-online-petitioning-for-ballot-initiatives
Website for the No Side
No known website – Info on an opponents’ website appreciated.
Approved Ballot Language
City of Boulder Ballot Question 2G – Charter Amendment Related to Electronic and Online Petitions
Shall Sections 38, 45, and 56 of the City Charter be amended pursuant to Ordinance 8274 to allow the Boulder City Council to adopt ordinances that permit use of electronic petitions and to permit on-line electronic signing or endorsement of initiative, referendum, and recall petitions?
For the Measure ____
Against the Measure ____
See Ordinance No. 8274 to put Question 2G to the voters
https://bouldercolorado.gov/central-records/document-archive then click on Browse City Council Records > Ordinances > 2018 > 8274
Webpage of the Campaign Finance/Elections Working Group
https://bouldercolorado.gov/elections/campaign-financeelections-working-group
Question 2G pertains only to petitions. Final votes on municipal measures will continue to be conducted by election administrators, usually the Boulder County Clerk’s office via mail ballots.
The Campaign Finance/Elections Working Group unanimously recommended putting 2G on the November ballot.
Recommendation: for the measure
This measure adds another option besides paper petitions for circulators of municipal petitions.
The city council heard from Denver election administrators who have provided e-Sign to petition circulators with electronic tablets in order to collect signatures. The e-Sign program eliminates electronically signing the same petition twice, eliminates invalid voting addresses, and even assists in verifying signatures. Denver finds many fewer bad signatures on electronic petitions than on paper petitions, thereby saving staff time for other election functions. Denver administrators also informed city council of the safeguards built into e-Sign to prevent hacking.
2G may reduce the number of paid signature gatherers, allowing smaller organizations with good ideas to offer ballot measures. 2G may also reduce the ugly sidewalk battles that we have seen recently between petition circulators and groups opposed to the initiatives.
The technical details of how to collect and process electronic signatures should not be in the city charter. Kudos to city council for not mucking up our charter with those details.
The more cities in Colorado that adopt e-Sign, the more likely that the state will allow e-Sign for state initiatives. The high signature requirement of “Raise the Bar” Amendment 71, passed in 2016, was overturned but then stayed on appeal. The effect of a high bar could be dampened with e-Sign. Online petitions would provide even more opportunity to surpass a high bar. Concerns about someone assuming another person’s identity are somewhat mitigated by the fact that the signers’ identities would be public info and a person could unsign a petition.
If 2G passes, get ready to be bombarded to sign electronic petitions.
“Website” for the Yes Side – a Change.org petition
https://www.change.org/p/boulder-city-council-allow-online-petitioning-for-ballot-initiatives
Website for the No Side
No known website – Info on an opponents’ website appreciated.
Approved Ballot Language
City of Boulder Ballot Question 2G – Charter Amendment Related to Electronic and Online Petitions
Shall Sections 38, 45, and 56 of the City Charter be amended pursuant to Ordinance 8274 to allow the Boulder City Council to adopt ordinances that permit use of electronic petitions and to permit on-line electronic signing or endorsement of initiative, referendum, and recall petitions?
For the Measure ____
Against the Measure ____
See Ordinance No. 8274 to put Question 2G to the voters
https://bouldercolorado.gov/central-records/document-archive then click on Browse City Council Records > Ordinances > 2018 > 8274
Webpage of the Campaign Finance/Elections Working Group
https://bouldercolorado.gov/elections/campaign-financeelections-working-group
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