Hoffman ruling to affect signature gathering process

Matt Wickenheiser of the Portland Press Herald took an interesting look at the adverse effects of a recent ruling by the Maine Supreme Court that took independent U.S. Senate Herb Hoffman off the ballot.

The court ruled that the individual signing the back of the petition must personally witness each of the signatures being signed. If the petitioner can prove that one signature cannot meet that requirement, this violates the oath on the back of the sheet therefore invalidating the full petition.

It will likely affect referendum and people’s veto petition drives. Wickenheiser wrote:

“Many referendum drives in Maine rely on paid petitioners from out of state to gather signatures. But under Maine's Constitution, the people actually circulating the petition must be Maine residents.

“What often happens, said Dan Billings, a Republican activist and attorney from Waterville, is that the professionals pair up with Maine residents. The pros make the pitch to would-be signers, and the Mainer who is supposed to witness the signature often isn't there, but rather in a nearby car or reading a book.”