Secretary of State Al Jaeger says he and Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem are looking at possible legislation to strengthen the penalties for petition fraud.
Two initiatives – dealing with conservation and medical marijuana – were thrown out, after it was discovered that some of the circulators forged signatures. Several circulators -- including some members of the North Dakota State University football team -- were charged. All pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor offense.
"When there are fraudulent activities in terms of gathering signatures, the law says that's a misdemeanor," said Jaeger. "This is pretty serious, and it may need to be raised to something with higher penalties."
Jaeger also says his office is considering introducing legislation to require a person signing an initiative or referendum petition to also print his or her name. Jaeger says the state’s Constitution requires his office to try and verify a sampling of the petition signatures before any measure would go on the ballot.
"Some signatures are very difficult to read," said Jaeger. "It becomes very challenging to find out, 'Okay -- who is this individual?'"
Jaeger says he doesn't yet have the bill drafts for those proposals.