Amnesty International USA

WHEREAS the AIUSA Petition for Board Candidacy is the only means by which members may run for the Board if the Board does not slate them;

WHEREAS there has been no petition candidate since 1994, thus demonstrating the great difficulty of collecting 100 valid signatures;

WHEREAS AIUSA allowed, up until the 2002 election, for submission of signatures by fax and electronic mail, yet has barred such submission for the 2003 and 2004 elections, accepting only original signatures;

WHEREAS the requirement for original, handwritten signatures makes no sense because AIUSA allows members to join by credit card over the Internet, and therefore AIUSA lacks the means to validate the signatures of all members;

WHEREAS the Digital Signature and Electronic Authentication Law (SEAL) of 1998 authorizes use of digital signatures in commercial transactions and the Governor of NY uses digital signatures to sign proclamations, and several Offices in NY state use digital signatures (AIUSA is incorporated in the state of NY);

WHEREAS the failure to accept non-handwritten signatures is inconsistent with Governance Objective G.1.2 of the current AIUSA strategic plan, which provides that "The nominating and elections processes will be effective, efficient, democratic and responsive to the governance, financial and strategic needs of the organization";

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, beginning in 2005, AIUSA will (1) accept petition signatures in either original handwriting or electronic (digital) signature (using any mechanisms approved by New York State for digital signing of legal documents.); and (2) slate, as a petition candidate for the Board, any person who submits one hundred (100) names, addresses, and signatures of current AIUSA members by postal mail, fax or electronic mail. Original copies of faxed signatures must also be sent by postal mail, but may arrive after the deadline.