[BoulderCouncilHotline] Re: Petition signatures

[Brockett, Aaron]

First of all, Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful moms out there!

Secondly, I would like to second Rachel's request to discuss petition signing at our council meeting on Tuesday night. I also wanted to share the guidance on signature collection that was issued by Boulder County Public Health's legal department:

"Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) appreciates the inquiries regarding the signature collection process for November 2020 ballot measures and recognizes the importance of elections and maintaining fairness in the election process.  Because there is no reference to this activity in the State’s Safer at Home Order, individuals should request guidance from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Given community transmission of COVID-19 and strict CDPHE social distancing mandates, BCPH cannot endorse any activity that will generate a high volume of person-to-person contacts such as in-person signature collection and particularly door-to-door collection of signatures.  All signature collection efforts must comply with applicable public health orders, and BCPH strongly encourages organizers and individuals to explore, to the extent permitted by law, signature-collection methods that avoid in-person contact."

Given that the deadline for collecting signatures for most ballot measures is June 5th, I think it's too late to re-consider allowing electronic petition signing. Instead, I ask that council considers placing the initiatives on the ballot ourselves. It would bring an end to the in-person signature collection that public health is recommending against, but still give direct democracy a chance in these extraordinary times we find ourselves in.


Best,

Aaron Brockett


 [cid:fb4f7476-6bd9-47fa-bdd3-f610a6b9d59c]

<http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/>

C: 720-984-1863

brocketta at bouldercolorado.gov

________________________________
From: Friend, Rachel <FriendR at bouldercolorado.gov>
Sent: Thursday, May 7, 2020 12:17 PM
To: HOTLINE <HOTLINE at bouldercolorado.gov>
Subject: Petition signatures

Dear colleagues and Hotline readers,

It has come to my attention that ballot initiative signature gatherers were denied a permit by the City (for Pearl St) to collect signatures, and that our local health department does not endorse signature gathering that requires in-person contact.

In light of these developments, which present a material change since our last discussion (in which at least some of us suggested going door to door or collecting signatures at places like Pearl St), I would ask that CAC add in a new discussion on this topic for next Tuesday’s meeting.

I also don’t believe we ever thoroughly discussed or voted on whether to simply refer currently certified measures to the ballot ourselves. I think that would be helpful to consider / discuss as well.

Warmly,
Rachel Friend
Boulder City Council Member
friendr at bouldercolorado.gov
Mobile: 720-601-0163
Office: 303-441-3002
she/her

Boulder City Council
1777 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80302
http://www.bouldercolorado.gov

Subscribe to Rachel’s newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e4d8f6fd362b/rachelfriendsubscribe
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