Petitioners’ foes get OK from state to be at polls

AUGUSTA – Secretary of State Dan Gwadosky said he’s concerned about possible disruptions if opponents of petition drives show up at polling places on Election Day.

Activists representing opponents to petition drives have long been barred from polling areas. But the rule came into question when opponents of one of the five initiative campaigns that plan to circulate petitions Tuesday asked election officials for a legal review.

Gwadosky, Maine’s top election official, said a review by the state attorney general concluded that opponents, or “blockers,” could not be legally barred from polling places.

“I don’t think that’s a positive development,” Gwadosky said Monday. “We don’t think it’s a good thing.”

While saying the presence of both sides on as many as five petition campaigns could lead to “chaos,” Gwadosky said he will abide by the attorney general’s interpretation of the law.

Gwadosky added that he’s looking to local election clerks throughout the state to maintain order at polling places and is encouraging them to be consistent in regulating petition activity.

“We’re hopeful the clerks will be able to develop ways to minimize the potential for disruptions,” Gwadosky said.

The secretary, stressing his concern over the attorney general’s ruling, said that shortly after the new Legislature is seated in December he will submit a bill to prohibit blockers from the polls.

With a large turnout expected Tuesday, volunteers representing up to five initiative campaigns will be gathering signatures at many of Maine’s more than 600 polling places.

Voters will be asked to sign petitions addressing tax reform, state spending, gambling, same-sex marriage and bottled drinking water.