TX-SOS ADVISORY DECLARES GATHERING SIGNATURES AT A VOTING LOCATION IS ELECTIONEERING

Texas Secretary of State- Hope Andrade ^ | July 19,2012 | Keith Ingram

[magna carta]

Petition Signature Gathering

Please be advised that any persons who wish to gather petition signatures must do so beyond the 100-foot distance markers. Petition signatures for any type of election may not be collected inside the early voting or election day polling place or within the 100-foot distance marker. Petition gathering is considered electioneering for or against a measure, which is prohibited within the 100-foot distance marker. Id. §§ 61.003, 85.036.

[kingu]

I had no idea that it wasn’t illegal... Seems like a sensible action, especially considering how much it could be abused now that the cat is out of the bag.. ‘Would you mind signing this petition? Mitt Romney wants to end all foodstamps, and we want to see if the state might be able to take over the program. We don’t know why Republicans are doing this, but they plan on enacting it right after they win the election...’

[magna carta]

Petitioners can get signatures behind the 100’ marker but if a proposal is not yet on the ballot we believe it is striking at the heart of first amendment rights. The right to petition for grievance against the govt. is a check on abuse of power by the ruling class. This sudden declaration claiming that gathering signatures is “electioneering” is dead wrong with large implications.Right now universities are increasingly using “free speech zones” for circulators or speakers on campuses. Thankfully a Fed Judge in Ohio shot it down. We have to pay close heed to the First Amendment....the devil is always in the details.