Lake County News | California - Berkey: Unscrupulous signature gatherers at work

smurf - yep!

Registered | 03-16-2008 12:23:30

paid petition gatherers should be made illegal, they are parasites who will lie shamelessly to get you to sign-half the time they don't even believe in what they're doing! Paying people opens the door for monied interests, who have enough advantage as it is-they don't need another way to game the system and degrade our democracy, or what's left of it.

And shame on churches like the catholics and mormons who came up with prop 22, and then spent tens of millions getting it passed-I'm sure Jesus wept the day that pointlessly cruel law was passed in his name, of course the irony is that those two outfits have so many sex problems of their own-how about a REAL crackdown on the molester priests and the tens of thousands of poligamists in Utah.

taxismom - educate yourself

Registered | 03-16-2008 12:56:32

and ask questions!

This is a practice that was perfected when paid signature gatherers were out trying to get the electoral 'reform' initiative on the ballot last year.
There will be one petition on top for you to sign. Then they will ask you to sign two or three more times on pages underneath the one you just signed, without showing what is being signed....

California election code states that it is illegal for any petition circulator to “intentionally misrepresent […] the contents, purport or effect of the petition” which they are circulating.

Nexus reporters sent to investigate had varying experiences with the petitioners. Some were given vague descriptions of the additional measures while others were simply told to sign three times for the cancer initiative with no mention of additional proposals. In one case, a petitioner tried to convince a reporter to add his signature to an initiative regarding eminent domain, despite the reporter’s insistence that he would prefer to research the topic first.

California election law states: “Any person working for the proponent or proponents of a statewide initiative or referendum measure who covers or otherwise obscures the summary of the measure prepared by the Attorney General from the view of a prospective signer is guilty of a misdemeanor.”

http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=15152

From IndyBay - California:
Well-funded anti-LGBT organizations are paying people to gather signatures to put a constitutional amendment on the November 2008 ballot that would prohibit marriage for gay and lesbian couples. In response to this very serious threat, the Equality for All campaign is launching a statewide effort to encourage Californians not to sign this discriminatory petition.
more here
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/02/23/18481159.php
Here is what you can do:
1. Please ask what petitions people have when you see them. In many instances, the signature gatherers will have more than one. It is ok to ask them, “What petitions do you have?”
2. Please ask them if they are paid or volunteer- that’s also ok to ask.
3. Take samples of any literature they are offering.
4. Do not engage in debate! If the conversation feels tense, move on. If the petitioner is being aggressive towards you, move on. This information is helpful, but it’s not worth your safety.
5. Please report back. When you encounter signature gatherers, please email the date, time, location and paid/volunteer information to tips [at] equalityforall.com.

Donna Christopher - Speaks volumes

Author | 03-16-2008 17:22:50

doesn't it, that they would need to indulge in such skullduggery to get something on the ballot in such a deceitful way. If you're ashamed of what you are trying to acheive maybe it's time to rethink what you are doing. These same dirty dogs were in front of Kmart before our first primary of the year, would not answer questions about being paid or WHY THERE WAS NO TEXT ABOVE THE SIGNATURE LINES!!! And trading signatures from homeless people in exchange for something to eat or drink - a real class act. No, it does no good for your petition but paid signature gatherers don't care about that.

RayPerry - Are You Sure?

Author | 03-17-2008 13:02:19

Be careful what you assume as being unscrupulous behavior in gaining signatures. If the gentleman had two different petitions each requiring a separate signature only a fool would sign them without reading what they’re for. Again the readers assumed that the gentleman was a paid petition gatherer. He may have been so but it doesn't say it in the article.
The lesson here is read what you are signing, don't assume anything and don't jump to conclusions.

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