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Washington State Senator Jeff Wilson of the 19th District is raising concerns over a bill passed this week by a Senate Committee, warning that it could suppress voter participation. Wilson is citing the words of former Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed to back his concerns.
The bill would require signature gatherers to sign a statement on each petition, confirming that, to the best of their knowledge, signers provided accurate information. If proven false, signature gatherers could face up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine. The bill also mandates that petition signers provide addresses that match their voter registration.
Reed expressed fears that the bill could lead to voter suppression and undermine an “honored tradition” enshrined in the state constitution since 1912. Wilson believes the bill is a reaction to several Republican-backed initiatives from the previous year.
Wilson said this type of fraud is not a concern in Washington, emphasizing that the state’s signature-checking procedures are already robust enough.
