1005 CIRCULATION OF PETITIONS

1005.1 In order to circulate petitions pursuant to this chapter, a person shall:

(a) Be at least 18 years of age, and;

(b) Either be a resident of the District of Columbia or, if not a resident of the District of Columbia, have registered as a non-resident petition circulator prior to circulating a petition in accordance with Section §§ 1005.2 and 1005.3.

1005.2 Each petition circulator who is not a resident of the District of Columbia shall, prior to circulating a petition under this chapter, complete and file with the Board a Non-Resident Petition Circulator Registration Form in which he or she:

(a) Provides the name of (and office sought by) the candidate or ballot measure in support of which he or she will circulate the petition;

(b) Provides his or her name, residential address, telephone number, and e mail address;

(c) Acknowledges that he or she has received from the Board information regarding the rules and regulations governing the applicable petition circulation process, and that he or she will adhere to such rules and regulations;

(d) Consents to submit to the Board's subpoena power and to the jurisdiction of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the enforcement of Board subpoenas.

1005.3 Each non-resident petition circulator shall present proof of residence to the Board at the time he or she files the Non-Resident Petition Circulator Registration Form. Valid proof of residence is any official document showing the circulator's name and residence address. Acceptable forms of proof of residence include:

(a) A copy of a current and valid government-issued photo identification;

(b) A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck;

(c) A copy of a government-issued document; or

(d) A copy of any other official document, including leases or residential rental agreements, occupancy statements from homeless shelters, or tuition or housing bills from colleges or universities.

1005.4 The proposer shall advise all circulators of the petition that pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 1-1001.14 (2011 Repl.), it is unlawful to:

(a) Tender any form of compensation to a qualified registered elector as consideration for his or her signature upon any initiative or referendum petition; or

(b) Make any false statement to the Board concerning any initiative or referendum petition or the signatures affixed thereto.

1005.5 The proposer of an initiative measure has one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days beginning on the first (1st) calendar day immediately following the date upon which the proponent formally adopts the petition sheet and the Board certifies that the petition sheet is in compliance with D.C. Official Code § 1-1001.16(g) (2011 Repl. & 2012 Supp.), to secure the proper number of valid signatures needed to qualify the measure for the ballot and file the initiative petition with the Board; provided, however, that the petition shall be filed with the Board no later than 5:00 p.m. on the one hundred eightieth (180th) calendar day.

1005.6 The proposer of a referendum measure shall secure the proper number of signatures needed to qualify the measure for the ballot and file the referendum petition with the Board no later than 5:00 p.m. on the last business day before the act, or any part of the act, which is the subject of the referendum has become law in accordance with the provisions of the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act (Pub. L. No. 93-198 87 Stat. 774 (1973) (the "Home Rule Act")).

1005.7 The proposer of an initiative or referendum measure shall not circulate the petition for signatures until the Board certifies that the petition sheet is in compliance with the requirements of § 1003.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 43 D.C. Reg. 103, 109 (January 12, 1996); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 5582 (April 12, 2013).