North Dakota voters will decide this fall whether to direct the state to use a portion of its tobacco-settlement funds to pay for a tobacco-use prevention program, the Grand Forks Herald reported Sept. 3.

Sponsors submitted more than enough signatures to get the question on the Nov. 4 ballot, and this week Secretary of State Al Jaeger signaled final approval for the measure to appear. Organizers said that it took just three months to gather 17,154 petition signatures -- far more than the 12,844 needed -- showing that the measure has strong grassroots support.

"This is truly a citizens' initiative," said former North Dakota Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp, who is leading the campaign for Measure 3. The sponsoring committee for the measure also includes former Gov. George Sinner and first lady Jane Sinner, among others.