Lowell Finley, a California lawyer for the group, said signature collectors have said they were coached to use the horse petition to snag marriage signatures.

With money to pay signature collectors and other expenses, almost anything can get on the ballot.

The board voted last week to remove her from the ballot because of questions over where one of her signature collectors lived.

Ms. Norton said the disclosure provisions and the requirement that signature collectors be registered Colorado voters, were necessary "to protect the integrity of the process."

For example, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor challenged her defense of the requirement that signature collectors be registered voters, rather than simply state residents.

But the Court of Appeals responded that the time had long since passed when signature collectors knew each of their neighbors personally.

Some political candidates like Steve Forbes have relied on paid signature collectors, but among their biggest consumers are citizens' and business groups.

While the majority of signature collectors were volunteers, the amateurs were not the top performers, Mr. Tompkins said.

The signature collectors were arrested for violating a law that declares central Moscow and major thoroughfares "off limits" to demonstrators.

Riots erupted nationwide as allegations of fraud were made by Chávez against the signature collectors.