WA Judge Rejects Initial Challenge to Ref 71, But Leaves Door Open

This morning, King County Superior Court Judge Julie Spector rejected an attempt to keep Referendum 71, which would put the most recent domestic-partnership bill up for a public vote, off the ballot. However, she notes that some of the petition signatures could be rejected and there is opportunity for further litigation. Pro-gay lobby Washington Families Standing Together (WAFST) had sued the secretary of state's office last week arguing that elections officials erroneously accepted over 30,000 petition signatures (details here). But Spector found that "this court has no authority to prevent the Secretary of State from accepting these petitions in light of their questionable validity." Only after R-71 is certified (which Secretary of State Sam Reed is expected to do today) can a judge consider which signatures may be accepted and which should be disqualified. Furthermore, that challenge may be brought only in Thurston County Superior Court, location of the state capital. The dispute stemmed from two issues: On the back of each petition sheet, there is an affidavit that the person circulating the petitions must sign, attesting that each sheet contains accurate information and the signers were not offered compensation. But over 30,000 signatures were stamped on the back with name of petition-filer Larry Stickney (who neither signed it himself nor gathered the signatures). In addition, the secretary of state's office accepted signatures from individuals who were not registered to vote at the time they signed, a violation of state law. Full Story from The Stranger

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