Electronic signatures pitched as ‘compromise’ for North Dakota constitutional initiatives

Opponents say the proposal is an assault on residents’ talents to suggest such measures.

The Home Authorities and Veterans Affairs Committee on Friday heard Home Concurrent Decision 3031 by Rep. Steve Vetter, R-Grand Forks. Voters in November 2024 would determine the measure if it passes the Home and Senate. 

Vetter and measure backer Dustin Gawrylow, of Bismarck, say their proposal is a compromise, permitting digital signature gathering for measure petitions, however including restrictions resembling extra signatures wanted for poll placement and two majority votes to move. 

“The Legislature would not need it simple to vary the structure, and … the folks don’t need energy taken away from them,” Vetter informed the Tribune. 

The measure would require the secretary of state to arrange an internet signature gathering system, efficient in 2026, for voters to signal kinds and petitions for initiated and referred measures, recall petitions and candidate nominations. Vetter mentioned such a system would profit “grassroots folks” and people with little cash, and would mitigate petition fraud.

Secretary of State Michael Howe testified neutrally on the proposal, however mentioned an digital signature system “has nice attraction for our workplace, simply the benefit of doing issues … however can we implement this and implement it with integrity?”

Gawrylow informed lawmakers the measure “is my try to create an olive department to say let’s provide you with an answer that could be a compromise.” Digital signatures would “push out 90% of the cash on the petition facet as a result of there can be no purpose to rent petitioners to run across the state amassing signatures,” he mentioned.

Vetter’s measure additionally would restrict all initiated measures to 1 topic. He mentioned he want to additional amend that element to make clear the definition of a single topic.

His proposal additionally would improve the variety of signatures petitioners would wish to get a measure on the poll, from 4% to 10% of the state’s inhabitants on the final federal decennial census for constitutional initiatives, and from 2% to five% for all different initiatives.

The decision additionally would require constitutional initiatives to move each the first and common elections with a majority of votes and in a majority of legislative districts, which Vetter mentioned would guarantee widespread geographic assist. Two elections “give the folks and the Legislature loads of time to dive into this,” he mentioned. 

Opponents to Vetter’s measure, who embrace the League of Girls Voters of North Dakota, say it’s an assault on the structure’s powers reserved to the folks, and places forth pointless and unjustified modifications.

“Citizen-led initiated measures have an extended historical past in North Dakota and play an vital position in supporting citizen participation within the governance of the state. HCR 3031 intends to deliver an finish to that position,” League Board Member Carol Sawicki wrote in testimony. 

Vetter’s measure is just like one handed final month by the Senate and despatched to the Home. That measure additionally would increase signature necessities, require majority vote approvals on the major and common elections, and restrict constitutional initiatives to 1 topic, amongst its provisions.

The Home panel will take up Vetter’s measure once more at one other time. 

North Dakota lawmakers lately have grumbled about sure constitutional initiatives voters have authorised, together with measures for a state Ethics Fee in 2018 and for time period limits on the governor and state lawmakers final yr.

Almost 62% of voters in 2020 rejected a measure proposed by lawmakers that may have given the Legislature a say in passing constitutional initiatives.