New Requirements for Petition Gatherers

New Requirements for Petition Gatherers

Date: February 27, 2008
By: Erika Navarrete
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HB1763

Intro: The Missouri House of Representatives approved a measure Wednesday, requiring new restrictions for  ballot petition gatherers.

Erika Navarrete (Nahv-ah-rett) has more from the State Capitol.

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The measure would require ballot petitioners to be Missouri residents and would also prohibit petitioners from getting paid by the signature.
 
The bill sponsor, Republican Representative Mike Parson, said obtaining signatures at a fast pace opens a door for fraud.
 
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Description: "If you're out there working for signature, your job is to get signatures. It really doesn't matter what's in the petition; and you're not selling that. You're selling 'how many signatures can I get in a days time, where I can make my quota or my bonus, -How do I make more money?'"

The measure would also restrict petition gatherers from receiving signatures by mail or via the Internet.  

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Erika Navarrete, KMOX News.

Intro: Petition gatherers would have to face new restrictions under a measure approved by the House on Wednesday.

Erika Navarrete (Nahv-ah-rett) has more from Jefferson City.

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OutCue: SOC The measure would prohibit ballot petitioners from getting paid by the signature and also require Missouri residency.  The bill sponsor, Republican Representative Mike Parson said signature gatherers should have an interest in Missouri law.
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Description: "To change our constitution ought to be difficult to do. You shouldn't just be able to come in and do initiative petitions to change it cause you don't like something. I think people need to be engaged and they need to understand what it is about the petition they're signing."
 

The bill would also restrict petition circulators from obtaining signatures for separate petitions.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Erika Navarrete, KMOX News.

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