KPLU Local News
(2009-09-04)
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SEATTLE, WA
(N3) -
Gay rights supporters in Washington have won a key legal step in their bid to keep Referendum 71 off the fall ballot. This is the measure to overturn Washington's latest gay domestic partnership law. A federal judge Thursday gave the gay rights campaign exclusive access to the petitions voters signed. Only Washington Families Standing Together will get access to the R-71 petitions for now. He plans to decide next Thursday whether the petitions will be released to the general public. KPLU's Austin Jenkins explains.
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Washington Families Standing Together is the coalition trying to save the state's new domestic partnership law and keep R-71 off the ballot. The group has won the right to analyze the R-71 petitions for errors. Spokeswoman Anne Levinson says she's convinced that Secretary of State Sam Reed improperly certified the Referendum for the November ballot.
Anne Levinson, Washington Families Standing Together: "They did not get enough valid signatures and if only signatures that were collected in compliance with the state constitution and state law were counted, the measure would not have been certified for the ballot."
Levinson's group has also filed its second lawsuit to stop R-71 from appearing on the ballot. The first lawsuit in King County was unsuccessful. Secretary of State Reed maintains his office did a fair and accurate review of each signature submitted. And that Referendum 71 qualified for the ballot - albeit by the slimmest of margins. I'm Austin Jenkins reporting. © Copyright 2012, N3
