2010 ballot measure petition signature costs
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In 2010, sponsors of citizen initiatives paid as little as eight cents and as much as $9.51 per signature to get their measures on the ballot.
This Ballotpedia report is an in-depth look at the "cost-per-required-signature" for measures that qualified for state ballots.
The cost per required signature is a comparison of the amount of money spent on the petition drive to the number of signatures the state requires for an initiative to make the ballot. For more information about this report and how it is compiled, see this page.
General Disclaimer: All calculations are only as accurate as the data made available through the data sources.
Übersicht
Thousands of signatures are collected each year; some by volunteers and others by petition drive companies. The 2010 election season abounded with initiatives. Hundreds of millions of dollars (an estimated $379 million) were spent in 2010's ballot measure campaign efforts; but first, initiative supporters spent an estimated $36 million to qualify those initiatives for statewide ballots by circulating initiative petitions.
More than 600 initiatives were proposed in 2010; however, only 50 were voted on in November 2010.
- This chart shows an overview of the data collected. Included is a list of which states featured initiatives on the ballot in 2010. The table also shows how many initiative sponsors paid over $2, $4, $6, and $8 per signature. Also included is the final average CPRS among all initiatives listed.
- Note: Dashes presented in the chart signify that no supporters of initiatives in that state hired a petition drive management company. A "0" in the chart shows that there were no initiative efforts in the state that spent above that CPRS..
QUICK STATISTICS:
- A total of $35,726,200.94 was spent on petition signatures
- 16 initiatives had a CPRS of above $2
- 7 initiatives had a CPRS of above $4
- 3 initiatives had a CPRS of above $6, while another 3 were above $8
- The state with the highest CPRS was Montana, with an average cost of $6.03 per required signature.
| State | Measures | Measures with CPRS above $2 | Above $4 | Above $6 | Above $8 | Average CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 2[1] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $1.59 |
| Arizona | 1[1] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $1.64 |
| California | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | $3.52 |
| Colorado | 6 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Florida | 3[1] | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $1.74 |
| Maine | 2[2] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $0.14 |
| Massachusetts | 3 | 0[3] | 1 | 0 | 0 | $2.13 |
| Missouri | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | $5.61 |
| Montana | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | $6.03 |
| North Dakota | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | $4.31 |
| Oregon[4] | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | $5.52 |
| South Dakota | 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Washington | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | $3.98 |
| TOTAL | 49 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 3 | $3.29 |
State overviews
This table shows the state-by-state cost per required signature for the measure in each state that had the highest CPRS. To see which initiative had the highest cost in each state, click on the dollar amount in each row.
- Note: Dashes presented in the chart signify that no supporters of initiatives in that state hired a petition drive management company. Dashes presented in the chart were not included in the calculation of the average CPRS.
QUICK STATISTICS
- The state with the most expensive CPRS was Montana with $9.51
- The CPRS could not be calculated for measures in Colorado, North Dakota and South Dakota, as the petition sponsors in those states did not hire petition management companies.
| State | Most expensive CPRS |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $1.59 |
| Arizona | $1.64 |
| California | $5.23 |
| Colorado | - |
| Florida | $2.02[5] |
| Maine | $0.14 |
| Massachusetts | $4.70 |
| Missouri | $9.19 |
| Montana | $9.51 |
| North Dakota | - |
| Oklahoma | $4.31 |
| Oregon | $6.92 |
| South Dakota | - |
| Washington | $6.69 |
| AVERAGE | $4.72 |
This chart presents the most expensive total amount spent on a petition drive by state. Also included is the average of all the most expensive initiatives found in each state.
- Note: Dashes presented in the chart signify that no supporters of initiatives in that state hired a petition drive management company.
QUICK STATISTICS
- The most expensive figure in this chart is from California's Proposition 27, for which supporters spent $3,031,085 gathering signatures.
- The second highest was Washington at $1,613,728.80. The initiative was Washington Initiative 1107.
- The average signature-gathering cost of the initiatives in this chart is $850,834.53.
| State | Most expensive total cost |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $52,154.02 |
| Arizona | $252,000 |
| California | $3,031,085 |
| Colorado | - |
| Florida | $1,366,300 |
| Maine | $7,823.23 |
| Massachusetts | $365,000 |
| Missouri | $844,252 |
| Montana | $463,000 |
| North Dakota | - |
| Oklahoma | $600,000 |
| Oregon | $763,836.74 |
| South Dakota | - |
| Washington | $1,613,728.80 |
| Average | $850,834.53 |
State by state
Alaska
| Ballot measure | Subject | Signature collection company | Cost | Signatures required | CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure 1 | Gov't accountability | n/a | n/a | 32,734 | n/a |
| Measure 2 | Abortion | Dewey Square Group | $52,154.02 | 32,734 | $1.59 |
Arizona
| Ballot measure | Subject | Signature collection company | Cost | Signatures required | CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Marijuana, Proposition 203 | Marijuana | Riester Consulting Company | $252,000 | 153,365 | $1.64 |
California
| Ballot measure | Subject | Signature collection company | Cost | Signatures required | CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 16 | Elections | Arno Political Consultants | $2,199,794 | 694,354 | $3.17 |
| Proposition 17 | Regulation | National Petition Management | $2,273,745 | 433,971 | $5.23 |
| Proposition 19 | Marijuana | Masterson & Wright | $987,833 | 433,971 | $2.27 |
| Proposition 20 | Elections | National Petition Management | $1,937,380 | 694,354 | $2.79 |
| Proposition 21 | Taxes | Masterson & Wright | $1,144,515 | 433,971 | $2.64 |
| Proposition 22 | State spending | Progressive Campaigns | $1,646,596 | 694,354 | $2.37 |
| Proposition 23 | Environment | National Petition Management | $2,222,312 | 433,971 | $5.12 |
| Proposition 24 | Taxes | Kimball Petition Management | $1,587,363 | 433,971 | $3.65 |
| Proposition 25 | State spending | Kimball Petition Management | $2,626,808 | 694,354 | $3.78 |
| Proposition 26 | Taxes | National Petition Management | $2,341,023 | 694,354 | $3.37 |
| Proposition 27 | Elections | Kimball Petition Management | $3,031,085 | 694,354 | $4.37 |
Colorado
| Ballot measure | Subject | Signature collection company | Cost | Signatures required | CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 101 | State budgets | n/a | n/a | 76,047 | n/a |
| Proposition 102 | Law enforcement | n/a | n/a | 76,047 | n/a |
| Amendment 60 | State budgets | n/a | n/a | 76,047 | n/a |
| Amendment 61 | State budgets | n/a | n/a | 76,047 | n/a |
| Amendment 62 | Abortion | n/a | n/a[6] | 76,047 | n/a |
| Amendment 63 | Gesundheitswesen | n/a | n/a[6] | 76,047 | n/a |
Florida
| Ballot measure | Subject | Signature collection company | Cost | Signatures required | CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 4 | Property rights | Multiple | $807,647 | 676,811 | $1.19 |
| Amendment 5 | Redistricting | PCI Consultants, Inc. | $1,366,300 | 676,811 | $2.02 |
| Amendment 6 | Redistricting | PCI Consultants, Inc. | $1,366,300 | 676,811 | $2.02 |
Disclaimer:
- Amendment 4: The sponsoring committee of Amendment 4, Florida Hometown Democracy, used multiple petition gathering companies, including PCI Consultants, Inc., during their signature drive.
- Amendment 5 & Amendment 6: Due to Amendment 5 and 6 being of similar subject and having the same sponsoring committee, Fair Districts Florida, an exact individual cost and CPRS for each amendment could not be reliably calculated. Instead, the cost and CPRS were calculated by evenly dividing the total expenditure of $2,732,600.90 to the signature collection company which Fair Districts Florida reported to Florida state.
Maine
| Ballot measure | Subject | Signature collection company | Cost | Signatures required | CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 (June) | Taxes | n/a | n/a | 55,087 | n/a |
| Question 1 (Nov) | Gambling | National Petition Management | $7,823.23 | 55,087 | $0.14 |
Massachusetts
| Ballot measure | Subject | Signature collection company | Cost | Signatures required | CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Taxes | Spoonworks, Inc. | $365,000 | 77,692 | $4.70 |
| Question 2 | Housing[7] | Freedom Petition Management | $6,000[8] | 77,692 | $0.08 |
| Question 3 | Taxes | Freedom Petition Management | $125,032.75 | 77,692 | $1.62 |
Disclaimer:
- In February 2010, the firm Freedom Petition Management prepared a lawsuit against Massachusetts Question 2. The lawsuit claimed that $200,000 was due to them by supporters of the measure. The status of the lawsuit is unknown at this time.
Missouri
| Ballot measure | Subject | Signature collection company | Cost | Signatures required | CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition A | Taxes | National Petition Management | $844,252 | See details here | $9.19 |
| Proposition B | Animal Rights | PCI Consultants, Inc. | $186,054 | See details here | $2.03 |
Disclaimer:
- Due to the structuring of Missouri signature requirements, the CPRS is based on the lowest possible district combination of required votes.
Montana
| Ballot measure | Subject | Signature collection company | Cost | Signatures required | CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I-161 | Hunting | Various employment agencies | $61,506.83 | 24,336 | $2.53 |
| CI-105 | Taxes | Lincoln Strategy Group | $463,000 | 48,673 | $9.51 |
| I-164 | Admin. of gov't. | M&R Strategic Services | $147,353.67 | 24,336 | $6.05 |
North Dakota
| Ballot measure | Subject | Signature collection company | Cost | Signatures required | CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fenced Hunting Ban | Hunting | n/a | n/a | 12,844 | n/a |
Disclaimer:
- No signature collection company was identified as having been hired or used by the sponsoring committee, North Dakota Hunters for Fair Chase, so CPRS statistics are not currently available.
Oklahoma
| Ballot measure | Subject | Signature collection company | Cost | Signatures required | CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Question 744 | Bildung | Oklahoma Education Association[9] | $600,000 | 138,970 | $4.31 |
Oregon
| Ballot measure | Subject | Signature collection company | Cost | Signatures required | CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure 66 (January) | Taxes | Voice of the Electorate, LLC | $275,000 | 55,179 | $4.98 |
| Measure 67 (January) | Taxes | Voice of the Electorate, LLC | $275,000 | 55,179 | $4.98 |
| Measure 73 | Law Enforcement | n/a | n/a | 82,769 | n/a |
| Measure 74 | Marijuana | n/a | n/a | 82,769 | n/a |
| Measure 75 | Gambling | n/a | n/a | 82,769 | n/a |
| Measure 76 | Environment | PCI Consultants, Inc. and NW Democracy Resources | $763,836.74 | 110,358 | $6.92 |
Disclaimer:
- Measure 66 and Measure 67: Due to Measure 66 and 67 being of similar subject and having the same sponsoring committee, Oregonians Against Job-Killing Taxes, an exact individual cost and CPRS for each amendment could not be reliably calculated. Instead, the cost and CPRS were calculated by evenly dividing the total expenditure of $550,000 to the signature collection company which Oregonians Against Job-Killing Taxes reported to the state of Oregon.
- Measure 73: No signature collection company was identified as having been hired or used by the sponsoring committee, Yes on 73. CPRS statistics are not currently available.
- Measure 74: No signature collection company was identified as having been hired or used by the sponsoring committees Oregonians for Responsible Regulation of Medical Marijuana, Yes on 74, Responsible Citizens of an Enlightened and Educated Society, and Regulate Medical Marijuana. CPRS statistics are not currently available.
- Measure 75: No signature collection company was identified as having been hired or used by the sponsoring committee Good for Oregon. NW Democracy, a petition company, did participate but not in petition circulation. According to available campaign finance reports, the company helped only with canvassing and posting yard signs. CPRS statistics are not currently available.
South Dakota
| Ballot measure | Subject | Signature collection company | Cost | Signatures required | CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Referred Law 12 | Tobacco | n/a | n/a | 16,776 | n/a |
| Initiated Measure 13 | Marijuana | n/a | n/a | 16,776 | n/a |
Washington
| Ballot measure | Subject | Signature collection company | Cost | Signatures required | CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I-1100 | Alcohol | Citizens Solutions, Inc | $650,000 | 241,153 | $2.69 |
| I-1082 | Labor | Citizens Solutions, Inc | $626,432.80 | 241,153 | $2.60 |
| I-1098 | Taxes | PCI Consultants, Inc. | $591,863 | 241,153 | $2.45 |
| I-1053 | Taxes | Citizens Solutions, Inc | $780,000 | 241,153 | $3.23 |
| I-1105 | Alcohol | PCI Consultants, Inc. | $1,501,462.1 | 241,153 | $6.23 |
| I-1107 | Taxes | National Petition Management | $1,613,728.80 | 241,153 | $6.69 |
Cost per signature rankings
The following is a complete ranking of initiatives, from highest to lowest, by the cost per required signature. Initiatives that did not hire a petition drive management company were not included in the chart.
QUICK STATISTICS
- 35 measures used petition drive management companies.
- Two pairs of measures were tied, at ranks 9 and 28.
- California had eight measures in the top 20.
- Massachusetts Question 2 had the lowest CPRS with $0.08 per required signature.
| # | Measure | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana I-161 | $9.51 |
| 2 | Missouri Proposition A | $9.19 |
| 3 | Oregon Measure 76 | $6.92 |
| 4 | Washington Initiative 1107 | $6.69 |
| 5 | Washington Initiative 1105 | $6.23 |
| 6 | Montana I-164 | $6.05 |
| 7 | California Proposition 17 | $5.23 |
| 8 | California Proposition 23 | $5.12 |
| 9 | Oregon Measures 66 & 67 | $4.98 |
| 11 | Massachusetts Question 1 | $4.70 |
| 12 | California Proposition 27 | $4.37 |
| 13 | Oklahoma State Question 744 | $4.31 |
| 14 | California Proposition 25 | $3.78 |
| 15 | California Proposition 24 | $3.65 |
| 16 | California Proposition 26 | $3.37 |
| 17 | Washington Initiative 1053 | $3.23 |
| 18 | California Proposition 16 | $3.17 |
| # | Measure | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | California Proposition 20 | $2.79 |
| 20 | Washington Initiative 1100 | $2.69 |
| 21 | California Proposition 21 | $2.64 |
| 22 | Washington Initiative 1082 | $2.60 |
| 23 | Montana I-161 | $2.53 |
| 24 | Washington Initiative 1098 | $2.45 |
| 25 | California Proposition 22 | $2.37 |
| 26 | California Proposition 19 | $2.27 |
| 27 | Missouri Proposition B | $2.03 |
| 28 | Florida Amendments 5 & 6 | $2.02 |
| 30 | Arizona Proposition 203 | $1.64 |
| 31 | Massachusetts Question 3 | $1.62 |
| 32 | Alaska Ballot Measure 2 | $1.59 |
| 33 | Florida Amendment 4 | $1.19 |
| 34 | Maine Question 1 | $0.14 |
| 35 | Massachusetts Question 2 | $0.08 |
Petition management company breakdown
This section provides a breakdown and list of petition management companies used by all initiatives in 2010. Included is how many initiative efforts each company managed, and in which states these companies were hired. Some initiatives hired multiple petition management companies, and therefore were not included in the breakdown below.[10]
QUICK STATISTICS
- National Petition Management and PCI Consultants, Inc. both managed seven initiative efforts.
- A total of five petition drive management companies were hired in California, the most of any state.
- Washington and Oregon tied for second with three petition drive management companies each.
| Petition management company | # of petition drives managed | States those managed petition drives were found in |
|---|---|---|
| National Petition Management | 7 | California, Maine, Missouri, Washington |
| PCI Consultants, Inc. | 7 | California, Florida, Missouri, Oregon, Washington |
| Citizens Solutions, Inc. | 3 | Washington |
| Kimball Petition Management | 3 | California |
| Masterson & Wright | 2 | California |
| Voice of the Electorate, LLC | 2 | Oregon |
| Arno Political Consultants | 1 | California |
| Dewey Square Group | 1 | Alaska |
| Lincoln Strategy Group | 1 | Montana |
| M&R Strategic Services | 1 | Montana |
| NW Democracy Resources | 1[11] | Oregon |
| Riester Consulting Company | 1 | Arizona |
Category breakdowns
This breakdown of initiatives by political topic shows which topic had the most initiatives on the ballot and the average CPRS of each topic. Only political categories with two or more initiatives on the ballot were included in this analysis.
QUICK STATS
- The category of taxes dominated initiatives in 2010 with 12 initiatives at an average CPRS of $4.75.
- Elections and campaigns came in a distant second, at three initiatives with and average CPRS of $3.44.
| Political topic | Number of initiatives relating to topic | Average CPRS |
|---|---|---|
| Taxes | 12 | $4.75 |
| Elections | 3 | $3.44 |
| Alcohol | 2 | $4.46 |
| Environment | 2 | $6.02 |
| Redistricting | 2 | $2.02 |
| State spending | 2 | $3.08 |
See also
Artikel
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 One measure was below $2.
- ↑ One measure was below $2. The other initiative effort did not hire a petition drive company.
- ↑ Two measures were below $2.00 per signature.
- ↑ Three initiative efforts did not hire a petition management company.
- ↑ Amendment 6 was tied with Amendment 5 at $2.02.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The committee filed five waivers to be exempted from major donor disclosure. The committee had all their waiver requests granted by the Secretary of State.
- ↑ The firm Freedom Petition Management was preparing a lawsuit claiming that $200,000 was due to them by supporters of the measure. The status of the lawsuit was unknown at the time this report was compiled.
- ↑ Massachusetts Office of Campaign & Political Finance, "Reports found for: Repeal 40B Ballot Question Committee", accessed August 19, 2011
- ↑ Signature gatherers were hired by sponsors.
- ↑ The Oklahoma Education Association served as petition drive managers for State Question 744, and was not included.
- ↑ This group paired with PCI Consultants, Inc. on Oregon Measure 76.
