The Maui County clerk has rejected more than half of the 9,768 signatures on an initiative petition submitted by the SHAKA Movement seeking a moratorium on genetically modified crops.

“We have determined that 4,720 registered voters in the County of Maui have signed the petition while 5,048 signatures have been deemed invalid,” County Clerk Danny Mateo said in a news release.

The rejection touched off a 20-day period during which the group may gather the 3,745 additional valid signatures needed to place the initiative on the ballot.

But Mark Sheehan, SHAKA Movement spokesman, says the group has already collected an additional 7,000 signatures and hopes to have 8,000 to 9,000 signatures next week.

To get on the Nov. 4 general election ballot, an initiative petition must secure 8,465 valid signatures, or

20 percent of the number of voters who cast ballots in the last mayoral general election.