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.

1 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A computer system for collecting votes from users on a computer network, the computer system comprising at least one processor configured to:
 provide a user interface on a website accessible by a user computer;   provide a displayable menu to a user on a user computer accessing the website via the interface, the displayable menu displaying a plurality of voting matters for which the user may optionally submit a vote in the form of approval data, the voting matters being selectable by the user on the user computer from the menu via the user interface;   receive data representing a user's selection of a voting matter from the menu;   provide the user access to data for displaying information to the user on the user computer, the information corresponding to the selected voting matter;   define a cut-off date or time corresponding to a date or time after which no more approval data is to be considered in connection with a vote for one or more voting matters in the menu;   determine the present date or time; and   provide the user on the user computer with an opportunity to submit, via the user interface, approval data associated with the selected voting matter when the present date or time is prior to the cut-off date or time for a vote for the selected voting matter, but deny the user with an opportunity to submit, via the user interface, approval data associated with the selected voting matter when the present date or time is after the cut-off date or time for a vote for the selected voting matter.   
     
     
         14 . A computer system as recited in  claim 13 , the at least one processor further configured to receive approval data associated with the selected voting matter from the user computer and record information associated with the approval data. 
     
     
         15 . A computer system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive approval data and recording information by receiving an electronic signature from the user computer and recording the electronic signature. 
     
     
         16 . A computer system as recited in  claim 15 , the at least one processor further configured to update a count of electronic signatures received. 
     
     
         17 . A computer system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive approval data by receiving an electronic signature from the user computer. 
     
     
         18 . A computer system as recited in  claim 17 , the at least one processor further configured to update a count of electronic signatures received. 
     
     
         19 . A process for collecting votes from users on a computer network, the process comprising configuring at least one processor for:
 providing a user interface on a website accessible by a user computer;   providing a displayable menu to a user on a user computer accessing the website via the interface, the displayable menu displaying a plurality of voting matters for which the user may optionally submit a vote in the form of approval data, the voting matters being selectable by the user on the user computer from the menu via the user interface;   receiving data representing a user's selection of a voting matter from the menu;   providing the user access to data for displaying information to the user on the user computer, the information corresponding to the selected voting matter;   defining a cut-off date or time corresponding to a date or time after which no more approval data is to be considered in connection with a vote for one or more voting matters in the menu;   determining the present date or time; and   providing the user on the user computer with an opportunity to submit, via the user interface, approval data associated with the selected voting matter when the present date or time is prior to the cut-off date or time for a vote for the selected voting matter, but deny the user with an opportunity to submit, via the user interface, approval data associated with the selected voting matter when the present date or time is after the cut-off date or time for a vote for the selected voting matter.   
     
     
         20 . A process as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising receiving approval data associated with the selected voting matter from the user computer and recording information associated with the approval data. 
     
     
         21 . A process as recited in  claim 20 , wherein receiving approval data associated with the selected voting matter and recording information comprises receiving an electronic signature from the user computer and recording the electronic signature. 
     
     
         22 . A process as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising updating a count of electronic signatures received. 
     
     
         23 . A process as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising receiving approval data by receiving an electronic signature from the user computer. 
     
     
         24 . A process as recited in  claim 23 , further comprising updating a count of electronic signatures received. 
     
     
         25 . A process for submitting votes from a user computer on a computer network, the process comprising configuring a user computer for:
 accessing a user interface on a website from the user computer;   receiving and displaying a menu on the user computer accessing the website via the interface, the menu displaying a plurality of voting matters for which the user may optionally submit a vote in the form of approval data, the voting matters being selectable by the user on the user computer from the menu via the user interface;   sending data over the computer network, the data representing a user's selection of a voting matter from the menu;   receiving data for displaying information on the user computer, the information corresponding to the selected voting matter, wherein one or more voting matters in the menu have a defined cut-off date or time corresponding to a date or time after which no more approval data is to be considered in connection with a vote for one or more voting matters in the menu;   receiving on the user on the user computer an opportunity to submit, via the user interface, approval data associated with the selected voting matter when the present date or time is prior to the cut-off date or time for a vote for the selected voting matter, but not receiving an opportunity to submit, via the user interface, approval data associated with the selected voting matter when the present date or time is after the cut-off date or time for a vote for the selected voting matter.   
     
     
         26 . A process as recited in  claim 25 , further comprising submitting approval data associated with the selected voting matter from the user computer over the computer network. 
     
     
         27 . A process as recited in  claim 26 , wherein submitting approval data associated with the selected voting matter comprises submitting an electronic signature from the user computer over the computer network.