Improve Online Petitioning

In 2021, Boulder launched a first-in-the-world style of online petitioning system for municipal initiatives. While the system is a great achievement, the online format has many shortcomings that may prevent any group from ever using the system again. The city should protect its investment in direct democracy by fixing some of the major flaws.

What problem(s) does this proposal aim to solve?

• The City of Boulder has spent more than $500k to create the online petitioning system. Since its launch, there have been a number of attempts to get a measure on the ballot.

• Only one campaign, Bedrooms Are For People, elected to use the online system to get all of the needed signatures. That campaign was only successful through the use of heroic organizing and technical expertise. We believe that no other groups will elect to use the online system without implementing critical fixes.

   

  How does this proposal further high-level city goals and plans?

• The city rightfully expanded access to direct democracy by building and implementing online petitioning.

• However, the problems with the system are endangering its use in the future and risking the system’s viability in the long-term unless they are fixed.