Jaeger warns against lax petition handling

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota's secretary of state says people who sign ballot measure petitions should make sure the petition carrier sees them do it.

Al Jaeger says he's heard reports of petitions being left unattended for people to sign. Jaeger says that's against the law, and signatures on those petitions may not be counted.

Jaeger says sometimes petitions are downloaded and circulated by people who may not be aware of the rules.

The secretary of state says a petition carrier has to personally witness each signature for the name to be valid.

Right now four petitions are being circulated. Two relate to the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname. The other two deal with farming rights and a proposed outdoors fund.

Tags: news, updates, petition, election