A signature checker reviews I-1401 signatures at the Elections Division office.

Elections Division signature checkers are busily sifting through petitions signed for initiatives I-1401, Paul Allen’s sponsored proposal to protect endangered species, and I-1366, activist Tim Eyman’s proposal aimed at making it harder to raise taxes in Olympia.

Signature checkers play a key role in “direct democracy” by making sure signatures submitted for initiatives are valid. In Washington, 246,372 valid signatures, or 8 percent of the total votes cast for governor, are needed to place an initiative on the ballot.

Sponsors of both initiatives submitted far more than the bare minimum — 334,044 for I-1366 and 348,627 for I-1401. Both are widely expected to earn a place on the statewide ballot this fall.

Since both campaigns provided a substantial pad of signatures above the minimum, signature checkers are able to do a random check of three percent, or roughly 10,000 signatures. If enough  signatures are valid, the initiative is approved for the ballot, but if they were to fall short, a full signature check is performed.

As of July 15, 1,897 total signatures have completed the second check process for I-1401. Out of these signatures, 1,636 were accepted, 238 were not registered as voters, five were pending, and 18 did not match the signature in the registration file. No duplicates were found. The check is expected to wrap up this week.

Meanwhile, another team is preparing I-1366 for a  signature check that should be completed next week.

Signature checkers count I-1366 signatures in preparation for next week’s sig check.