Initiative & referendum-petition signatures.

WORKING DRAFT
2007
STATE OF
WYOMING
07LSO-0404

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
NO.
SJ0004

Initiative & referendum-petition signatures.

Sponsored by:
Senator(s) Mockler, Case, Decaria, Massie, Sessions, Vasey and Von Flatern and Representative(s) Martin, Millin, Warren and Zwonitzer, Dn.

A BILL

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing to amend the Wyoming Constitution
relating to initiative and referendum petition; modifying the number of signatures required by county.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WYOMING
,
two-thirds of all the members of the two houses, voting separately, concurring therein:

Section 1.
The following proposal to amend Wyoming Constitution, Article
3
, Section
52
(c)
is proposed for submission to the electors of the State of
Wyoming
at the next general election for approval or rejection to become valid as a part of the Constitution if ratified by a majority of the electors at the election:

Article 3, Section 52
.

Initiative and referendum.

(c)

After certification of the application, a petition containing a summary of the subject matter shall be prepared by the secretary of state for circulation by the sponsors.
The petition may be filed with the secretary of state if it meets both of the following requirements:

(i)

It is

If
signed by
q
ualified voters, equal in number to fifteen percent (15%) of those who voted in the preceding general election
,
;
and

(ii)

It is signed by qualified voters equal in number to fifteen percent (15%) of those

resident in at least two-thirds (2/3) of the counties of the state,
as determined by those who voted in the preceding general election in that county

it may be filed with the secretary of state
.

Section 2.
That the Secretary of State shall endorse the following statement on the proposed amendment:

The passage of this amendment would change the geographical requirement for petition signatures for initiative and referendums. Currently, the petition must be signed by at least fifteen percent (15%) of the qualified voters, qualified voters as determined in the last general election, in at least two-thirds of the counties of the state. This amendment would return the signature requirement to the pre-1998 constitutional language by
removing geographical restrictions
. It would still require that the petition be signed by fifteen percent (15%) of the qualified voters of the state.

(END)

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SJ0004