Signature gatherers working to get initiatives on the November ballot often provide misleading or inaccurate information about the ballot measures, a CALL7 undercover investigation found.

And many of the signature gatherers were not wearing a badge required by state law that shows whether they were paid employees or volunteers gathering signatures to put an initiative on the ballot, the CALL7 investigation found.

But only a judge can determine what violates the law when a signature taker incorrectly or selectively describes an initiative, said Richard Coolidge, spokesman for the Colorado Secretary of State’s office.

"They cannot intentionally mislead you,” Coolidge said. “It's up to the voter to go through and read this first before they decide to sign it or not."

Signature gatherers in various locations had either selective or uninformed descriptions of what the ballot measures would do if the initiatives make it on the ballot and voters approve them.

"Right we're getting 0.01 percent from gaming but the problem is they give that 0.01 percent - they give all of it to parks and recreation they don't give any of that to schools,” said one signature gatherer outside a Jefferson County library. “We're asking that they give some to schools."

But the ballot measure was mostly about raising wagering limits at Colorado casinos from $5 to $100 and allowing additional games like craps at the casinos. The initiative does direct some money to education, but the signature gather downplays the wagering limits even when asked about it.

"This also increases the bets to $100?" a CALL7 producer asked.

"Well for casinos and their operations but the main line is what they give to schools here," he answered.

A signature taker outside a King Soopers in Castle Rock did not appear to know the details of the initiatives he was trying to put on the ballot. The initiative is about affirmative action and contains nothing about women's shelters.

"We have three initiatives one would protect the funding for the battered women's shelters," he said.

"Where does it say women's shelters,” a CALL7 producer asked. “This one seems to talk about ethnicity, national origin and sex."

Coolidge said that the secretary of state takes complaints about signature takers, but complaints are passed on to the state Attorney General’s office. A judge must decide whether the signature takers were misleading the voters and whether those signatures should count.

Other signature takers accurately described the initiatives but they still might not be doing everything right.

Coolidge did say the law was clear cut that they had to have a badge stating whether they are "Paid" or a "Volunteer" and if the petitioner is paid the badge must also include the name of phone number of the organization.

None of the signature takers 7News video taped were wearing the required badges.

"If I'm not wearing a badge that says I'm paid or I'm a volunteer, than should I be collecting signatures?" asked CALL7 Investigator John Ferrugia

"No. If it's not on there you should not be," Coolidge answered.

The Denver District Attorney's office put a news release Friday warning voters about possible fraud, identity theft and misrepresentation by signature gatherers in the metro area. Prosecutors warn not to rely solely on what the petitioner says and never provide a birth date or social security number. Only a signature and address are required to verify the petition.

None of the signature gatherers 7News talked to asked for birth date or social security numbers.