Chairman Linda W. Crop at the request of the
Mayor
A BILL IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Chairman Linda W. Cropp, at the request of the Mayor, introduced the following bill,
which was referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
To amend An Act to regulate the election of delegates representing the District of
Columbia to national political conventions, and for other purposes, approved August 12,
1955 (69 Stat. 699; D.C. Code §1-1301 et seq.) as amended, to clarify the
penalties for violation of the act.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as
the "Election Petition Penalty Amendment Act of 2001 ".
Sec. 2. Sec. 8 (3) (D.C. Code §1-1312 (b) (3)) of An Act to regulate the election of
delegates representing the District of Columbia to national political conventions, and for
other purposes, approved August 12, 1955 (69 Stat. 699; D.C. Code §1312 (b) (3)) as
amended, is amended to read as follows:
"(3)(A) All signatures on a petition shall be made by the person whose signature
it purports to be and not by any other person. Each circulator shall swear or affirm upon
oath that he or she is a registered voter and has done the following:"(i) Personally circulated the petition;
"(ii) Personally witnessed the signing of each signature on the petition; and
"(iii) Determined from each signer that he or she is a registered voter, in the
same party as the candidate and, where applicable, that the signer is registered in and a
resident of the ward from which the candidate seeks election."(B) Any circulator who willfully violates any provisions of paragraphs (1)
through (18) of this section, or any regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, shall upon
conviction thereof, be subject to a fine of not more than $10,000, or imprisonment for not
more than six months, or both. Each occurrence of a violation of paragraphs (1) through
(18) of this section shall constitute a separate offense. Violation of paragraphs (1)
through (18) of this section shall be prosecuted in the name of the District of Columbia
by the Corporation Counsel of the District of Columbia.".
Sec. 3. The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the
fiscal impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Home
Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code §1-233(c)(3)).
Sec. 4. This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of
veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), approval by the Financial
Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority as provided in section 203 (a) of the
District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995,
approved April 17, 1995 (109 Stat. 116; D.C. Code §47-392.3 (a)), a 30 day period of
Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home
Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code §1-233(c)(1)), and
publication in the District of Columbia Register.