Pure Pierre Politics

The state Board of Elections has legislation filed on its behalf by the House committee on local government that would prohibit candidates from notarizing the signatures of circulators of their nomination petitions. This was the issue in the lawsuit that Stephanie Strong brought against Secretary of State Jason Gant. Strong wanted Gant to take Rep. Brian Gosch, R-Rapid City, off the 2012 general election ballot because Gosch notarized the signature of a circulator of his petition. Ultimately, after several months and three different judges, Strong’s challenge was shot down by Circuit Judge Kathleen Trandahl, who said Gosch’s action wasn’t prohibited by state law. The proposed ban is in section 3 of House Bill 1018. The legislation seeks other changes in state election laws, including specifically prohibiting any sort of compensation to a voter for signing a nominating petition or a petition for a constitutional amendment, referendum or initiated measure.