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Arizona's system for candidates to gather petitions online to qualify for elections has been cited as an innovative step by Harvard University.
The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation in Harvard's Kennedy School of Government announced in a news release that it was honoring the Arizona program for its creativity.
The center has a goal of improving democratic governance by recognizing government innovation.
The online system allows a candidate for state office, such as the Legislature, to gather up to 50 percent of his or her signatures online, rather than in person. People can also make $5 donations to a candidate through the system, called E-Qual. The donations help the candidate qualify for the state campaign finance program, called Arizona Clean Elections.
The news release said the Government Innovators Network recognized the online system's creativity.
“E-Qual allows convenient and greater participation from both voters and candidates while providing a more accurate and reliable method of collecting signatures and $5 qualifying contributions,” the news release said.
The system is administered by Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan. It was set up by former secretary Ken Bennett.
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