On March 9, 2010, oral argument will be held in Striving Towards a New Daytona v City of Daytona Beach, in Florida circuit court, 7th judicial district. One of the issues is whether it is legal for a group to ask voters to sign three separate petitions by a single signature. A group trying to get three city initiatives on the ballot prepared a petition form in which the upper two petitions are on paper with the characteristics of carbon paper. Thus, a voter who wants to sign all three initiatives can do so by signing name and address on the top initiative sheet, which also creates a carbon-paper-like signature on the two lower sheets. Obviously this saves time, not only for the signers, but for elections officials who check petition validity.
The Daytona Beach group that is backing these initiatives also provides single sheets, for voters who only want to sign one, or only two, of the three initiatives. The three initiatives are all on the same general subject, but initiative rules require separate petitions because they are amending three separate city laws.
In 2008, Alabama activists wanted to use the same approach to place Ralph Nader, Bob Barr, and Chuck Baldwin on the ballot as independent presidential candidates. Alabama, like most states, lets voters sign for multiple independent candidates for the same office. However, the Secretary of State refused to allow carbon-paper petitioning, and so all three campaigns just gave up the idea and circulated ordinary petitions for each of the three.
“The Daytona Beach group that is backing these initiatives also provides single sheets, for voters who only want to sign one, or only two, of the three initiatives. The three initiatives are all on the same general subject, but initiative rules require separate petitions because they are amending three separate city laws.”
If the general subject is “reform”, perhaps.
There are 6 proposed charter amendments, which were placed in 2 packets of 3 carbon sheets, which were color-coded. I’m not sure how you would go about signing only single sheets, or reading what you were signing.
(1) Bans corporate and union campaign contributions.
(2) Requires changes in comprehensive land use plan to be submitted to public vote.
(3) Requires city council approve any non-budgeted expenditure over $1000 by council resolution.
(4) Reduce water & sewer rates by 33%, and limit future annual increases to 3.5% or Consumer Price Index, whichever is less.
(5) Eliminates city attorney, and replaces with outside legal firm with contracted awarded by bid.
(6) 28% reduction in city personnel (roughly 300 or 1100), with all cuts made in areas other than police and fire departments. Specifically eliminates by title about 18, generally mid-management positions. Limits city to creating 4 new positions per year.