Here is George Will on Washington State’s issue of “thugs” getting names and addresses of people who signed petitions for election ballots, and harassing the people at their homes. Jay Severin was talking about that on his show, but I only heard some of that, but clearly Jay thinks that petition signers’ names should be kept private.
Election information should all be public. If there are accusations of voter fraud, then both the accusers and the accused have a right of access to those petitions. That is all part of living in a “democracy,” and why there had to be a Freedom of Information Act.
An individual or group going over to someone’s home to trespass or to harass individuals is a separate issue.
And signing a petition is NOT a “form of voting”! Merely signing a petition just shows that you want to help someone get a name or question on the ballot, not that you endorse that person or view. In 1990, I signed a petition for Evelyn Murphy to get her name on the Democratic primary ballot for governor of Massachusetts, but in no way did that mean that I endorsed her candidacy.
If someone approaches you on the street and asks you to sign a petition, and if you don’t want to take the risk that people will find out your name and address and cause trouble (although the chance of that will be extremely small), then don’t sign the petition. That’s your choice.
“Democracy” has its faults.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.