Validity rate

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A validity rate is acquired through a random sampling of petitions signatures during the certification process for initiatives or referenda.

Some states require that each signature be individually inspected and a determination made as to whether it is a valid signature. Other states utilize a "random sampling" process to determine a validity rate.

The idea behind a validity rate is that if in a random sampling of submitted signatures, 75% of them are found to be valid, that same rate can safely be applied to all the signatures in the submitted petitions. In some states, if the application of this "validity rate" yields more than enough signatures to qualify the initiative or referendum for the ballot, the validation process is considered complete.

For example, the election official would make a determination such as:

400,000 signatures were turned in. We checked 5% of the signatures--or 20,000 altogether--and of that 20,000 signatures, we found that 15,000 of them (or 75%) are valid. 75% of 400,000 is 300,000, so we stipulate that the supporters of the petition have turned in at least 300,000 valid signatures. Since 282,000 valid signatures were required to place the measure on the ballot, and we believe based on our random sample that at least 300,000 valid signatures were presented, we therefore certify the measure for the ballot.