Random sampling

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Random sampling is one way of determining whether enough valid signatures have been submitted to election officials to qualify an initiative for the ballot.

The other way of checking signatures is a 100% validity check. Under this method, termed the full-check method, every signature is evaluated. States that use the random sampling method have stated they do so because:

• It is less expensive to evaluate a relatively small number of signatures than to look at every submitted signature. For example, if 400,000 signatures were submitted, and under a random sampling method where just 3% of signatures are evaluated, election officials would only have to look at 12,000 signatures versus 400,000 signatures.
• They believe that the random sampling method is just as accurate as the full-check method.

States that use random sampling

• Arizona: Laws governing the initiative process in Arizona.
• California: Laws governing the initiative process in California.
• Missouri: Laws governing the initiative process in Missouri.
• Nevada: Laws governing the initiative process in Nevada.
• Oregon: Laws governing the initiative process in Oregon.
• Washington: Laws governing the initiative process in Washington.

See also

• Elections