Group scrutinizes signatures on gay marriage petition
Group scrutinizes signatures on gay marriage petition
by ANN SANNER
Copyright by The Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - John and Char Cepek have spent dozens of hours fact-checking information to try to keep a measure off Illinois ballots this fall that would ask voters if the state should amend its constitution to ban gay marriage.
The Cepeks are part of the volunteer Fair Illinois Committee that says it has found so many errors on the ballot petitions that the referendum won't go before voters. However, gay marriage opponents who back the referendum are confident their efforts will meet the state's technical requirements.
The referendum would ask voters whether they think the Illinois Constitution should define marriage between a man and a woman as the only valid legal union in Illinois. The results wouldn't change the constitution, but organizers hope it would influence lawmakers to begin the amendment process.
A 1996 Illinois law already prohibits same-sex marriage, but opponents fear that law could be overturned by the courts unless the Illinois Constitution is changed.
The Cepeks and most other Fair Illinois Committee members are working in the Chicago area, checking to see if names and addresses on the petition match voter registration information. Others are verifying information in downstate counties.
"As a citizen of this country and Illinois, I want exactly the same rights for both of my kids," said Char Cepek, who has one gay and one straight son. "Nothing special. Nothing different. The same."
Last month gay marriage opponents submitted 345,199 signatures to get the measure on Illinois ballots this fall. They need 283,111 valid signatures from registered Illinois voters to meet the state's requirements.
That group, Protect Marriage Illinois, is monitoring the state's verification process and raising money for any challenges to the petition.
"We want to ensure that the residents of Illinois aren't disenfranchised because they forgot to put a middle initial in, or their 'T' looks a little different or their handwriting is shaky because they signed on a bus," said David E. Smith, project director for Protect Marriage Illinois.
State Board of Elections officials already have thrown out about 10,000 of the signatures submitted. Many weren't filed under the correct election jurisdiction, said Steve Sturm, legal counsel at the state board.
Election authorities in 110 jurisdictions are checking about 19 percent, or 64,519, of the remaining signatures, Sturm said.
The authorities will make sure the signers are registered to vote in their jurisdictions. Most will verify information of about 500 signers.
About 11 election authorities have reported back to the State Board of Elections so far, but state board officials wouldn't say how many signatures were valid until all jurisdictions were finished.
Jurisdictions are supposed to report to the board by June 13, but most will be asking for extensions, Sturm said.
Rick Garcia, political director of the gay rights group Equality Illinois, says he doubts Protect Marriage Illinois will meet the state's requirement.
"There is no way that they're going to come up with that number because we're finding so many invalid (signatures)," said Garcia, who's group is spearheading the Fair Illinois Committee's campaign.
Smith said he didn't have any reason to be concerned about meeting the requirements.
Objections to the petition must be filed with the state board between June 27 and July 6, and Garcia said he anticipates that the Fair Illinois Committee will file one.
State board officials will decide whether the advisory referendum appears on November ballots, which they have to certify by August 31.
If the referendum makes the ballot, it would be Illinois' first statewide advisory referendum since 1978, according to the State Board of Elections.
"If they play by the rules and if they have valid signatures, then they should be on the ballot," Garcia said. "We just want to make sure the signatures are valid and they got them in a legal fashion."
ON THE NET
State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.il.gov/
Protect Marriage Illinois: http://www.protectmarriageillinois.org/
Fair Illinois: http://www.fairillinois.org/
by ANN SANNER
Copyright by The Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - John and Char Cepek have spent dozens of hours fact-checking information to try to keep a measure off Illinois ballots this fall that would ask voters if the state should amend its constitution to ban gay marriage.
The Cepeks are part of the volunteer Fair Illinois Committee that says it has found so many errors on the ballot petitions that the referendum won't go before voters. However, gay marriage opponents who back the referendum are confident their efforts will meet the state's technical requirements.
The referendum would ask voters whether they think the Illinois Constitution should define marriage between a man and a woman as the only valid legal union in Illinois. The results wouldn't change the constitution, but organizers hope it would influence lawmakers to begin the amendment process.
A 1996 Illinois law already prohibits same-sex marriage, but opponents fear that law could be overturned by the courts unless the Illinois Constitution is changed.
The Cepeks and most other Fair Illinois Committee members are working in the Chicago area, checking to see if names and addresses on the petition match voter registration information. Others are verifying information in downstate counties.
"As a citizen of this country and Illinois, I want exactly the same rights for both of my kids," said Char Cepek, who has one gay and one straight son. "Nothing special. Nothing different. The same."
Last month gay marriage opponents submitted 345,199 signatures to get the measure on Illinois ballots this fall. They need 283,111 valid signatures from registered Illinois voters to meet the state's requirements.
That group, Protect Marriage Illinois, is monitoring the state's verification process and raising money for any challenges to the petition.
"We want to ensure that the residents of Illinois aren't disenfranchised because they forgot to put a middle initial in, or their 'T' looks a little different or their handwriting is shaky because they signed on a bus," said David E. Smith, project director for Protect Marriage Illinois.
State Board of Elections officials already have thrown out about 10,000 of the signatures submitted. Many weren't filed under the correct election jurisdiction, said Steve Sturm, legal counsel at the state board.
Election authorities in 110 jurisdictions are checking about 19 percent, or 64,519, of the remaining signatures, Sturm said.
The authorities will make sure the signers are registered to vote in their jurisdictions. Most will verify information of about 500 signers.
About 11 election authorities have reported back to the State Board of Elections so far, but state board officials wouldn't say how many signatures were valid until all jurisdictions were finished.
Jurisdictions are supposed to report to the board by June 13, but most will be asking for extensions, Sturm said.
Rick Garcia, political director of the gay rights group Equality Illinois, says he doubts Protect Marriage Illinois will meet the state's requirement.
"There is no way that they're going to come up with that number because we're finding so many invalid (signatures)," said Garcia, who's group is spearheading the Fair Illinois Committee's campaign.
Smith said he didn't have any reason to be concerned about meeting the requirements.
Objections to the petition must be filed with the state board between June 27 and July 6, and Garcia said he anticipates that the Fair Illinois Committee will file one.
State board officials will decide whether the advisory referendum appears on November ballots, which they have to certify by August 31.
If the referendum makes the ballot, it would be Illinois' first statewide advisory referendum since 1978, according to the State Board of Elections.
"If they play by the rules and if they have valid signatures, then they should be on the ballot," Garcia said. "We just want to make sure the signatures are valid and they got them in a legal fashion."
ON THE NET
State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.il.gov/
Protect Marriage Illinois: http://www.protectmarriageillinois.org/
Fair Illinois: http://www.fairillinois.org/
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