Argument for
This charter amendment will help your local government work more efficiently.
Current charter language prevents the City of Bellingham from using electronic contracts and signatures – resulting in the literal shuffling of paper from one place to another. When you sign a document today, you’re likely signing electronically. It's faster, since you don’t have to coordinate schedules to pass a document along. It’s also more secure, since digital signatures are verified through multiple factors.
At the City, our current charter requirement means every contract is printed on paper, mailed out and back, then physically carried to various locations for at least four individual hand signatures from city officials. The final signer is the finance director, who attests that the mayor’s signature is authentic and crimps the paper with the official City seal. Only then is the document scanned and stored in our electronic filing system. This antiquated process adds time and cost to every contract without adding value or accountability. It verges on absurdity. Vote Yes on this amendment to approve the use of electronic signatures to streamline the City’s process for contracts and other documents: saving paper, time and helping your government work more efficiently for you.
Their answer to the argument against
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Source: Local voters' pamphlet, page 16