In many states, signature gathering has become a niche industry in the role of politics.

I just wish I could help her out with last-minute signature gathering.

Diplomats who monitored the signature gathering, which took place in December, said the ruling appeared to be excessively technical.

Another ballot initiative, now in the early stages of signature gathering, would roll back a recent tripling of car license fees, deepening the deficit.

Those benefiting from assistance include Sumate, a group that has staged signature gatherings for a referendum.

After a successful signature gathering, the federal council may create a counterproposal to the proposed amendment and put it to vote on the same day as the original proposal.

But in poor districts, where turnout was noticeably smaller, residents said the signature gathering would fail.

The gambling industry supplied the money to pay for signature gathering, and the measure qualified for the ballot in July 2004.

The recall movement began slowly, largely relying on talk radio, a website, cooperative e-mail, word-of-mouth, and grassroots campaigning to drive the signature gathering.

In November 2010, Love Honor Cherish launched "Sign for Equality", a social networking internet site to assist with signature gathering.