Create a Petition

1. Go to PETITIONS > Petition Maintenance.
2. On the Petition Maintenance dialog, click Find to display a list of existing petitions. Scan the list to confirm that the petition does not already exist. If it does not exist, click Cancel to return to the Petition Maintenance dialog. Then click New.
Note: If the petition already exists and you want to create a new batch, see Add New Batch to a Petition.
3. On the Add New Petition dialog, values in these fields are filled in by the system:
• Petition Number This value should not be changed.
• Batch-Number This value is automatically set to 1. The value will be incremented by one as additional batches are added for this petition.
Note:  It isn't mandatory that you divide a petition into batches, but the system does assign batch number 1 to a petition when it's created. Subsequent batches, if added, are automatically numbered 2, 3, etc.
4. Enter values in these fields:
• Petition-Short-Desc—Enter the petition name as you would like it to appear on dialogs and in reports.
• Petition-ID—Enter a short ID that can be used for filing of petition signatures. This ID is displayed as part of batch identification.
• Petition Type—Select the correct type for this petition:
  • Candidate Petition
  • Initiative
5. Click OK. The Petition Maintenance dialog displays the data you just entered.
6. Complete the fields as follows:
   1. District—Select the district applicable to this petition. (For candidate petitions, select the district in which the candidate seeks to run.) If all voters in the county are eligible to sign the petition, select ALL.
   2. Petition-Description—An entry here is optional. It only appears on this dialog.
   3. . Date Petition Opened—Enter the petition start date.
   4. Date-Petition Closed—Entering a date here closes the petition, preventing the verification of any more signatures, even if the close date is in the future. So do not enter a date here until you are ready to close the petition.
   5. Number-Signatures-Claimed—Optional. Enter the number of signatures you expect to verify in this first batch for the petition, if known.
   6. Number-of-Signatures-Req:
      • Candidate petitions: Enter the number of petitions that the candidate needs to qualify.
      • Initiative petitions: Enter the number of petitions required for the petition to be placed on the ballot.
   7. Pages—Enter or use the arrows to select the total number of petition signature pages. Petition signature verification requires the page number containing the voter's signature. The number entered here is the maximum number you can enter during signature verification.
   8. Lines per Page—Enter or use the arrows to select the total number of signature lines on the petition pages. Petition signature verification requires the page line containing the voter's signature. The number entered here is the maximum number you can enter during signature verification.
   Note: Page and line number entries do not apply to petition batches.
   9. Group Petitions—Related petitions can be grouped. This allows the system to prevent saving a petition signature for a single voter who has signed multiple petitions for the same appeal. For example, there may be multiple petitions, each for a different candidate running for the same City Council seat.

   Only the first petition signature processed in the group during signature verification may be saved for a single voter.

   • Enter a Petition Number of the same type as the petition in focus; either Candidate Petition or Initiative. Only petitions of the same type can be grouped. When you save the petition, the petition name appears in the Grouped Petitions box.
   • Click Ungroup Petition to remove the grouping.
7. Click Save.