D.C. hearing focuses on banning post-signature edits to petitions, while advocates urge birth‑date and form changes

The Committee on Executive Administration and Labor held a public hearing June 13 on Bill 26‑233, the Petition Administration Clarification Amendment Act of 2025, which would prohibit altering information filled in a petition line after a signer has affixed a signature.

The measure drew broad agreement that petition rules need clarification, but witnesses disagreed over the best fixes. Supporters of a strict prohibition on post‑signature edits cited Initiative 83 petition sheets that used correction tape or “whiteout” as evidence the practice risks fraud and undermines public trust. Other witnesses said the law should also allow practical remedies — for example, making birth date an optional verifying field, redesigning the petition form, or enabling limited corrections before a signature is affixed.

“Petitioning is one of the purest forms of democracy in America,” said Lisa Rice, CEO of Grow Democracy DC and proposer of Initiative 83, who testified in favor of clarifying the rules. Rice told the committee the bill “would help provide [campaigns] clear guidance” after her campaign’s experience with correction tape.

Several witnesses who supported clarity suggested additional or alternative reforms. Ankit Jain, who identified himself as the shadow senator for the District of Columbia, proposed adding a birth‑date field to petition forms so the…