The Attorney General of California has prepared the following title and summary of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure:
DIGITAL SIGNATURE. ELECTION PETITIONS. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TRANSACTIONS. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Establishes a state agency to issue a digital certificate to any California resident. Requires certificate to generate a verified digital signature that can be used to subscribe to any authorized public or private sector electronic transaction. Authorizes use as driver license, identification or voter registration card at no additional charge. Requires election officials to validate and count digital signatures for candidacy, initiative, referendum and recall petitions if transmitted to a secure website provided by candidate or proponent. Preserves traditional signature methods. Imposes imprisonment and fines for violations of this system. Summary of the estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Measure would result in unknown, major one-time costs to develop the systems, and could result in unknown major (probably in the range of tens of millions of dollars) annual net costs to state and local governments.