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How to collect Signatures for the Initiative to End Fraudulent Foreclosures
Printer-friendly versionColorado Initiative Signature Gathering Training and Rules
Every signature matters this year as we try to get Initiative 84 on the ballot, and the easiest way to lose those signatures is by not following signature gathering rules. As we embark on this historic endeavor to ensure our homes are safe from fraudulent foreclosure, it is important that you watch this video and read the rules below before you start collecting. Now, let's get going and win this war against the big banks and the financial industry.
Colorado Law for Collecting Signatures
Petition signers must be a registered elector
• Do not renumber the tracking number
• Do not disassemble the petition packet.
• Do not make stray markings on the petition; test pens on scratch paper.
• Complete the affidavit on back, only after you have collected all signatures and are in the presence of a notary.
• Persons who are prevented from signing by physical disability may authorize another individual to sign for them
in the voter's presence. The person providing assistance must sign his or her name and address and state that
such assistance was given.
Required while gathering signatures
• You must be 18 and a United States citizen.
• All signatures must be legible.
• Signatures must be witnessed by the circulator who signs the affidavit.·
• Circulator must be available to provide testimony.
• Make sure the signer lists the address where he or she is currently registered:
Avoid invalid signatures
-./ Make sure all signature entries are legible.
v The signer must write the same address where they are registered to vote.
-./ Stray marks on a petition section could result in that petition being invalidated.
-./ In order for a signature to be certified, the signature must be legible and signed in person. Next to the signature
must be written the complete address where the voter is registered. No a PO Box.
-./ Vofers should sign both their first and last names.
-./ If signature is unreadable, have the signer print their name right next to their signature.
v Make sure all signer fill out the Date of Signing Box with the date of signing
-./
Correcting Mistakes
• Do not erase or make changes.
• For a small mistake, have signer cross out. ·
• For a large mistake, leave the incorrect line intact and ask the voter to sign name and address again on the next
line.
Petition Affidavit
• When petition is complete or ready to be turned in, the affidavit on back must be singed in the presence of a
notary.
By signing, you are swearing that;
o {Insert language from Denver Petition}
Colorado Law Regarding the Circulation of Petitions
It is a Crime:
o For a petition signer to sign a name other than his or her own on a petition. § 1-40-130,
C.R.S.
o For a petition signer to knowingly sign his or her name more than once for the same
measme at one election. § 1-40-130, C.R.S.
o For a petition signer to sign a petition, knowing that he/she is not a registered elector. § 1-
40-130, C.R.S.
o For a circulator to circulate petitions using the name of any person or organization,
association, league or political party without written consent. § 1-40-130, C.R.S.
o For a circulator claim that any person, organization, association, league or political party
endorses a petition without written consent. § 1-40-130, C.R.S.
" For a circulator to sign the circulator affidavit without knowing or reasonably believing
the statements contained therein to be true.§ 1-40-130, C.R.S.
" For any person to certifY that an affidavit was notarized unless it was notarized and the
person issuing the oath is a qualified notary. § 1-40-130, C.R.S.
" For anyone to destroy, deface, mutilate or suppress a petition, or aid, counsel, procme, or
assist anotherin doing so.§ 1-40-131, C.R.S.
o For anyone to willfully neglect to file a petition, or aid, counsel, procure, or assist another
in doing so.§ 1-40-131, C.R.S.
o For anyone to conceal or remove a petition from a person who is ·lawfully entitled to .
possess a petition, or aid, counsel, procme, or assist another in doing so. § 1-40-131,
C.R.S.
" For anyone to add, alter, amend or change the inf01mation provided on a petition by an
elector, or aid, counsel, procure, or assist another in doing so (except that circulators may
strike an entire line on a petition if they believe the line to be invalid). § 1-40-131, C.R.S.
o For any person to do any act that delays the holding of an election on an initiative or
referendum, or conspire or agree to do so.§ 1-40-130, C.R.S.
o For any officer to willfully do any act to confuse the issues submitted at an election. § 1-
40-130, C.R.S.
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Requirements for Circulators:
o Must be at least 18 years old, a citizen of the U.S., and a resident of Colorado for 30 days
prior to petition circulation. § 1-2-101, C.R.S.
o Must circulate his/her petition sections personally. § 1-40-113, C.R.S.
o May not detach the circulator affidavit or any other portion of the petition section fi·om
the signature pages. § 1-40-i 13, C.R.S.; SOS Rule 16.3.
o Must give each signer the opportunity to read the ballot title and text of the measure. § 1-
40-110, C.R.S.
o Must circulate only petitions that have been approved by the Secretary of State and are
serially prenumbered, § 1-40-113, C.R.S., and that contain the warning to signers
provided by statute, the ballot title on each page, and the text of the initiative. § 1-40-
110, C.R.S.
o Must sign circulator's affidavit in the presence of a notary public. § 1-40-111, C.R.S.
o Must sign an affidavit that: sets forth the circulator's name, address, and date the affidavit
was signed; certifies that the circulator has read and understands the law goveming the
circulation of petitions; states that the circulator circulated this section of the petition,
each signature was affixed in the circulator's presence; each signature on the petition is
the signature of the person whose name it purpmis to be, to the best of the circulator's
knowledge, each person signing the petition was a registered elector when they signed the
petition, and no person signing the petition was paid or will be paid by the circulator or
any other person to sign the petition. § 1-40-111, C.R.S.
o Must completely fill out every blank in the circulator's affidavit. SOS Rule 16.4.
o Must not obtain any signatures on the petition after the circulator's affidavit is signed and
notatized. § 1-40-111, C.R.S.
o Must bundle petitions with others being submitted by proponents so that they are
delivered to Secretary of State's office at the same time (at least three months prior to
election) and in groups of one hundred. § 1-40-113, C.R. S.
o The entire petition section is invalid if circulated in a mmmer not authmized by law. § 1-
40-111, C.R.S.
o Only petition lines that are completely filled out will be counted as an enhy by the
Secretary of State. SOS Rule 16.1.2.
o Notary must completely fill out notary block or entire petition is invalid. SOS Rule 22.3.
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Requirements for Petition Signer:
o Must be a registered elector eligible to vote on an initiative. § 1-40-111, C.R.S.
<> Must place his/her signature on the petition and print his/her name, address, city, county
and date of signing. § 1-40-111, C.R.S.
o Should sign the petition in ink. § 1-40-111, C.R.S.
o If disabled or illiterate, a signer may be assisted by any person, other than a circulator, in
completing the information required, so long as the person providing such help signs
his/her name and address and states that he/she assisted the disabled or illiterate elector. §
1-40-111, C.R.S.
o Name placed on petition must be substantially similar to one found on voter registration
file for that person in order for signature to cotmt. SOS Rule 16.5.
o Middle initial that is placed on petition or in voter registration record but is not used in
other document will not invalidate signature, but different middle initials on the two
documents will invalidate a signature. SOS Rule 16.5.
o Failure to place "Sr.," "Jr.," or "III" on one document but not other (i.e., either petition or
voter registration) will not invalidate a signature. SOS Rule 16.5.
o Signer's addresses, placed on petition and in voter registration record, that do not match
will invalidate signature. SOS Rule 16.5.
o Signer's failure to use street dire~tional indicator ("East" 4th Avenue) or an apartment
number will not invalidate signature. SOS Rule 16.5.
o Signer's use of post office box for address will invalidate signature. SOS Rule 16.5.
o Illegible entry by signer will invalidate signature. SOS Rule 16.5.
I read and understand the legal requirements relating to petition circulation.
(Signature) (Address)
(Printed name) (Date)