The rules are clear in Maine about the requirements for gathering signatures for any and all citizen petitions. One of these rules is that signature gatherers must never leave the petition unattended. This requirement is so important that signature gatherers must sign off that they have witnessed every signature and attest that the petition has always been in their possession. If we are to have faith in our system, it is essential that those in office ensure, to the best of their ability, that all the rules have been followed before signatures are certified. 

There is currently a legal challenge of signatures on a citizen’s petition related to transgender student athletes. Many signatures have already been disqualified. But serious questions and concerns have been raised as to whether proper process was followed on additional signatures. 

I hope others agree with me, that process is important and that if it can be shown that the actions of some signature gatherers were not consistent with the required process, then those signatures should be invalidated.

Peg Duddy
Wells