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. Candidate petitions only. Candidate Filing Date—If this race requires a filing date, enter the date here.
   4. Initiative petitions only.. Date Petition Opened—Enter the petition start date.
   5. 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.
   6. Number-Signatures-Claimed—Optional. Enter the number of signatures you expect to verify in this first batch for the petition, if known.
   7. 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.
   8. Candidate petitions for state-qualifying offices only: In Date Treasurer Appt Filed, enter the date the candidate filed Form DS-DE 9 (Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository). See Candidate Petition Filing Dates for more information.
7. Click Save.