Comments on: Defending decision to publish names of Md. marriage opponents

By: Year in Review: Blade publishes petition signers | Gay News | Washington Blade - America's Leading Gay News Source

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 13:00:53 +0000

[...] Washington Blade’s decision to publish the names of the more than 100,000 Marylanders who signed the petition that prompted the state’s same-sex marriage referendum sparked outrage [...]

By: Elwood Carter

Elwood Carter — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 22:17:48 +0000

what happened at Sodom and Gomorrah?

By: SPGorm

SPGorm — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 01:49:12 +0000

You should not be asking the Blade for guidance. You are writing about a very serious issue. Your friends need to seek legal assistance. Referendum petitions are submitted to the Maryland State office in Annapolis and then distributed to the respective Maryland counties for validation. No, checking the names is not a perfect system. That said, if anyone discovers that their name(s) were added without their knowledge, then their home county’s State’s Attorney needs to be contacted immediately. Fraudulent petitioning is a Maryland state crime. If an investigation finds such errors, the solicitor whose signature is on the page would be questioned and if evidence points to fraud, that person could be charged. An error can invalidate the entire page or/and invalidate that solicitor’s entire submission and lead to further review. Such investigations can suffice to throw out an entire petition. It just happened to an incumbent Congressman in Michigan.

By: laurelboy2

laurelboy2 — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 00:04:46 +0000

As a gay man, my name is on it. Why? Because I feel that this is too big a decision to let a group of legislators (pandering to certain interest groups and with hidden agendas) decide. The decision should rest with the people.

By: Tammi L. Coles

Tammi L. Coles — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 17:28:40 +0000

My first response was “oh no,” but I’ll admit to being persuaded by your reasoning. Besides, this is a sound strategy for all sides — transparency on voter initiatives using publicly available data, whether for progressive aims or conservative ones.

By: MLA

MLA — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 17:24:27 +0000

I have no problem with the release of the names. These people willingly signed a document to try and take away a civil right that the Maryland General Assembly extended to many of its citizens. There’s no reason these people should be shielded from the fallout from their LGBT friends & family and their supporters. I was disappointed in the people I recognized that did sign the ballot, was also pleasantly surprised at the number who did not. This is sausage-making at its finest. If the petition signers want to get into the game, they have to be prepared to accept the consequences of lost relationships.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 17:20:24 +0000

The decision to publish was correct. In fact, we found our two very dearest friends names on the petition and they were written in a way we have never seen them write their names (full name with middle spelled out). In fact, thee folks had already agreed to attend and be a part of our wedding in January pending the vote. When we talked with them, they were shocked and became upset that their names were on it having never signed it.

In doing some research, it appears that if an organization you belong to (such as a church) knows your full name and address that matches your voter registration then it is possible for them to get your name on the petition perhaps by less than legitimate means. It also seems that the verification process does not spot check the signers of the petition by actually calling them to see if they signed the petition. The Board of Elections just matches what is submitted against voter roles. As long as there is a match, the signature is considered valid.

Fraud? No way to know, but if this is the procedure to get verified names on a petition then I think zealots for there cause may be tempted to stray outside the boundaries of the intent of the people they ask to be a part of their cause.

Blade folks—is this incorrect?

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 17:19:33 +0000

I agree completely Barbara. I, too, lost a friend (and more) as others apparently supported her. They smile to your face and as you said, they stab you in the back. Kevin’s reasoning is spot on.

By: Barbara Stratton

Barbara Stratton — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:11:41 +0000

I fully support your decision to publish the names. I did loose a friend over it but I’d rather have friendships based on honesty and support than one where I felt like I had just been stabbed in the back.