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Statement from Rep. Cary
Condotta on voter-restriction bill
"Creating a system that takes away a voter's free
speech rights is terrible policy."
"I am disappointed that
Substitute House Bill 2601 was passed out of the House State Government and Tribal
Affairs Committee yesterday. Taking aim at voters because you don't like the
initiative process, or as I fear in this case the initiative sponsor, is
poor judgment. Under the guise of voter protection, House Bill 2601
disenfranchises voters.
The substitute bill
outlines 11 provisions that would create a process by which if the initiative
sponsor or signature gatherer make a single misstep, every signature
gathered would be voided. The bill would also authorize fines as high as
$10,000.
When
registered voters sign onto an initiative or referendum they are expressing free
speech. The
notion that valid signatures on a petition could be thrown out because
the signature gatherer has made an error could end up in court.
This bill creates a system
that takes away a voter's right to free speech and is terrible policy. I
will not stand by while citizens are losing their
rights.
The Legislature is
stepping out of bounds by arbitrarily taking away a person's right to speak out in support of an issue
by signing a petition to their government. We need to make it clear that
if petition signatures match the ones on the
valid voter registration cards they should be counted and every voter's voice should be
heard.
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Editor: Please find attached a
summary of the proposed Substitute House Bill 2601 as passed out in
yesterday's committee hearing.
For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7252
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