New Jersey - Gov. Phil Murphy (D) issued Two Executive Orders allowing 2020 Primary and General Election Candidates to gather Nominating Petition Signatures Electronically in response to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
So far, New Jersey is the Only State to Change its Rules in 2020 to allow Electronic Signature-gathering due to the Coronavirus.
Most States require Campaigns to Collect what are typically called Wet Signatures, or those made with Pen and Paper.
At least Three Voting Jurisdictions already allowed Candidates to gather Petition Signatures Electronically heading into the 2020 Elections:
Arizona - Voters may sign Nominating Petitions for Federal, Statewide, and State Legislative Candidates from Home or Anywhere with Internet Access using the E-Qual Platform. The Platform may Not be used to gather Signatures for Ballot Measures. In 2012, Arizona Implemented the E-Qual Electronic Nominating Petition-Signing Platform.
Update: U.S. District Court Won’t Let Arizona Initiative Groups Gather Electronic Signatures
Denver, Colorado - In 2015, Denver introduced eSign, a Petition-Signing Application used for Candidate Nominating Petitions. The City stated that this was the First Electronic Petition App of its kind in the Nation. Petition circulators use the App on a Mobile Device, which Voters Sign using a Stylus or other Marking Device.
Washington, D.C. - As part of the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Support Act of 2016, the Council of the District of Columbia amended the District's Election Code ordering the Board of Elections to "make a mobile application available to all candidates, qualified petition circulators, and proposers to install on a mobile device registered with the Board" for the 2018 General Election and All subsequent Elections. Washington, D.C. began using the eSign Petition-Signing App in January 2018.
eSign, which is available for Download on Tablets or Pre-Loaded Devices provided by DCBOE, allows Circulators to confirm that a Signer is a Registered Voter through a Private, Secure Database. The Traditional Pen and Paper Process is still available. eSign is Not Required to Collect Signatures.
Virginia and Texas has expressed Interest at pursuing this Electronic Signature type of Change.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
