Prairie Public Broadcasting

Increased penalties for petition fraud? BISMARCK, ND (NDPR) - Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says he'd like to increase the penalty for people who forge signatures on initiative and referral petitions.

It's now a class "A" misdemeanor, which carries a maximum one year in jail and a two thousand dollar fine. Stenehjem says he wants to increase that to a class "C" felony -- which carries a maximum five years and a five thousand dollar fine.

"It seems to me that forging someone's signature on a petition should be treated as least as seriously as forging somebody's name on a check for $500," said Stenehjem. "Those who sign bad checks may not get jail time, but at least they have a felony on their record. The seriousness of the offense of forged signatures on petitions needs to be underlined, because it's an affront to the entire initiative and referendum process."

Stenehjem says he will likely propose it to the 2009 Legislature.
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