Electronic initiative petition

Abstract

Preferred embodiments of the instant invention are directed to a system, method and apparatus for providing an efficient means for qualifying a petition, referendum or initiative on a ballot on a network. Users on the network access the petition qualifying system via a user interface and requests petitions or initiatives in the user's relevant voting area. After the user has reviewed the petition, the user can endorse the petition by providing the petition qualifying system endorsement indicia. The petition qualifying system verifies the eligibility of the user. The petition qualifying system compiles the received endorsement indicia, and presents such indicia to the relevant agency to secure placement of the initiative on the appropriate ballot.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for collecting user signatures for a referendum on a computer network having a provider computer and a user computer, the referendum being provided by a third party to the provider computer, wherein the provider computer includes a user interface, the system comprising: 
 means to access a user registrar database, wherein the user registrar database contains information regarding the user pertaining to the user's eligibility to endorse the referendum;    an interface for presenting the referendum to the user computer, the interface being configured to receive user identification information;    means for receiving a user indicia to approve the referendum;    means for operating the provider computer to compare the user identification information with the user registrar database to determine the user's eligibility to vote;    means for compiling a user indicia list; and    means for transmitting the user indicia list.    
     
     
         2 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising means for notifying user of ineligibility.  
     
     
         3 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein user indicia is a digital signature  
     
     
         4 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a counter for determining the number of user indicia received.  
     
     
         5 . A method for collecting user signatures for a referendum on a computer network having a provider computer and a user computer, the referendum being provided by a third party to the provider computer, wherein the provider computer includes a user interface, the method comprising: 
 receiving, from the user computer, a request for the transmission of the initiative;    receiving, from the user computer, user identifying information;    receiving, from the user computer, a user signature, wherein the signature signifies an approval of the initiative;    confirming the eligibility of the user providing the user signature;    adding the user's signature to a signature file; and    submitting the signature list to a receiving agent.    
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising transmitting notification to the user computer that the user signature does not represent an eligible user.  
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising increasing a count of the number of signatures upon the addition of the signature to the signature file.