HB 5573 Summary

• Invalidates petition signatures made more than 180 days before the petition is filed with the secretary of state for constitutional amendments, initiated laws, and referendums.

• Authorizes the board of state canvassers to use statistical random sampling methodology to determine validity and sufficiency of signatures on petitions, subject to board approval of the methodology.

• Establishes new requirements for petition canvassing, including public website posting of canvassing procedures and completion percentages, and daily availability of documents to petitioners and challengers; removes requirement to notify newspapers about petition statements of purpose.

• Requires the board of state canvassers to refer any signatures determined to be fraudulent to the attorney general and adopt standards for rebutting findings that signatures are not genuine or are not from registered electors.

• Changes petition sufficiency determination deadline from "2 months" to "60 days" before the election and requires completion of referendum petition canvass within 60 days of filing with no extensions permitted.

• Modifies judicial review procedures to allow challenges in the court of appeals within 7 days of board action or inaction, with expedited consideration required; removes specific provisions for initiative petition challenges.

• Applies statistical random sampling methodology to qualifying petitions for candidates without party affiliation and removes county designation requirement from qualifying petition form.