7-5-134. Signatures -- submission for approval -- statement of purpose and implication. (1) In order to determine the number of signatures needed on a petition to meet the percentage requirements of this part, the number of electors shall be the number of individuals registered to vote at the preceding general election for the local government.

(2) Before a petition may be circulated for signatures, a sample petition must be submitted in the form in which it will be circulated to the county election administrator for approval as to form.

(3) The county election administrator shall refer a copy of the sample petition sheet to the attorney for the local government unit. The local government attorney shall review the sample petition for form and compliance with 7-5-131 and 7-5-132 and prepare a concise ballot statement not exceeding 100 words. The ballot statement must be an accurate and impartial explanation of the purpose of the proposed ballot issue in plain, easily understood language. The statement may not be an argument and may not be written so as to create prejudice for or against the issue. The statement prepared pursuant to this subsection, unless altered by court order, must be used as the petition title and the ballot statement if the issue is placed on the ballot.

(4) At the time the statement of purpose is prepared, the attorney shall prepare a statement of the implication of a vote for and a statement of the implication of a vote against the ballot issue. Each statement of implication may be no more than 25 words and must be in simple, impartial language that clearly explains the meaning of a vote for or a vote against the issue. Each statement of implication prepared pursuant to this section, unless altered by a court order, is to be used on the petition and the ballot if the issue is placed on the ballot. The statements of implication must be placed beside the diagram provided for marking of the ballot in a manner similar to the following example:

☐ FOR weekly commission meetings.

☐ AGAINST weekly commission meetings.

(5) If the petition is rejected as to form, the election administrator must send written notice and a statement of the reasons for rejection to the person who submitted the sample petition within 21 days after submission of the sample.

(6) If the petition is approved as to form, the election administrator shall send written notice to the person who submitted the sample petition within 21 days after submission of the sample. This notice must include the ballot statement and the statements of implication prepared by the local government attorney.

(7) All petition signatures must be collected and filed within 90 days of the date of the notice that the petition has been approved as to form.