An initiative to give income tax credits and student loan aid to young North Dakotans breezed onto the November ballot Wednesday, while another proposal for a state lottery was hanging on.

Secretary of State Al Jaeger, who completed a review of the youth measure's initiative petitions on Wednesday, said they had 16,994 signatures from North Dakota voters. The petitions needed at least 12,844 names.

Jaeger said the quality of the youth initiative's petitions, and the number of extra signatures, left little doubt that the measure would qualify for a statewide vote.

"From right away at the beginning, we detected very few discrepancies," Jaeger said.

Although the youth measure will go before North Dakota voters in November, its rank is uncertain. It will be either Measure 2 or Measure 3. Should the lottery initiative qualify, it will be numbered ahead of the youth proposal, because it is a constitutional amendment.

The youth initiative seeks to implement a new state law that would extend up to $5,000 in income tax credits over five years to North Dakotans aged 21 to 29. The law also would provide up to $5,000 in student loan payments over five years for residents under age 30.

Estimates from the state Tax Department and the Bank of North Dakota say the proposal would mean $73 million less in state tax collections over two years.

Its supporters say the expense is a worthwhile investment to encourage more young North Dakotans to remain here, while critics say it could force tax increases or cuts in education, health and human services programs.

Jaeger is still reviewing whether the lottery petition has enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. Because it is a constitutional amendment, instead of a proposed state law, the signature threshold is higher - 25,688 names.

Some of the lottery initiative's petitions were incorrectly notarized, which knocked the number of valid signatures below that minimum earlier this month. However, Jaeger said Wednesday that subsequent corrections have lifted the petition "a few hundred" signatures above the minimum.

He expects to finish his review of the petitions shortly after the Labor Day weekend, Jaeger said.

"The count is above the threshold again. Not by very much, but it is above the threshold," Jaeger said Wednesday.

North Dakota's Constitution now has a ban on lotteries. Since 1986, North Dakota voters have rejected a state lottery in three separate elections, most recently in June 1996.