County clerks were given until July 7 to verify that registered voters signed the petition. Morandi's office said the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage got 120,558 people to sign its petition, which is almost three times the number of registered voters needed to put a question on the Nevada ballot. Under the measure, Nevada would recognize marriages only of a man and woman. That already is part of state law, but advocates want to back it up in the state constitution.
Opponents say the initiative amounts to discrimination and bigotry.
The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada and about 20 other groups across the state formed the Coalition for Unity to campaign against the ballot measure. The Coalition for the Protection of Marriage is heavily supported by the LDS Church.