Law changes makes it harder to qualify initiatives
Web Producer: Taylor Avey
PHOENIX (AP) - A little known provision of an election law passed last year has made it harder for citizens to get initiatives placed on the ballot.
The bill pushed by Secretary of State Ken Bennett eliminated a law known as the 95-105 rule. That rule required a full count of initiative petition signatures if a review found the estimated number of valid signatures was 5 percent above or below the minimum number required.
The Arizona Capitol Times reports the rule was meant to account for margins of error in the mathematical formula used to determine the number of valid petition signatures.
Now, a sample of 5 percent of the required signatures that shows less than 100 percent of those needed means the initiative doesn't go before voters.
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