Committee questions 50-signature threshold and considers tying candidate petitions to population or district share

Committee members questioned whether the charter’s current requirement that prospective municipal candidates submit 50 valid signatures remains appropriate for Littleton’s present population.

Colleen told the committee that the 50-signature threshold dates from older municipal code practice and said it can be revised; she said some jurisdictions use a fixed percentage of registered electors or require geographic distribution of signatures across districts to ensure at-large candidates show broader support.

Members discussed options including raising the fixed number, using a percentage of registered voters, or requiring a specified share from each district for at-large seats. One member suggested greater equity if signatures required a minimum from each district so at-large candidates demonstrate citywide reach.

The committee asked staff to research what other municipalities require for nominations and whether recall, initiative and referendum signature thresholds should be aligned with candidate nomination thresholds. No formal change was proposed at the meeting.