Signature gatherers likely to stay at polls

AUGUSTA – Mainers will likely retain their right to gather signatures for referendum drives at polling places.

A legislative committee voted in favor of a bill that would tighten rules on collecting signatures at polling places. But language banning signature gatherers from polling places was removed from the final version unanimously approved Monday.

The bill faces additional votes in the House and Senate.

The change of heart by the Legislature’s Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee came after referendum organizers complained about the proposal to ban signature gatherers from within 25 feet of the entrance to a polling place.

The original bill prompted a deluge of criticism from a variety of groups.

“I think they realized preventing people from the polling places was the wrong thing to do,” said Carol Palesky, an activist behind last year’s controversial tax-cap referendum.