$10K Reward Fund announced to combat illegal destruction of Walker recall petitions

[Jackpine Radical]

One Wisconsin Now | OneWisconsinNow.org


Hi Jackpine:

You have asked us repeatedly about the allegations going on related to recall petition destruction -- and here’s what we’re doing about it.

We have created a $10,000 Reward Fund to combat allegations of illegal recall petition destruction.



The fund, which we are announcing at a press conference at the state capitol momentarily, is being established to stop any illegal destruction of signature petitions in the recalls of Gov. Scott Walker and Rebecca Kleefisch.

We do not want to have to spend this money, but we believe there is too much at stake to simply leave allegations of illegal recall signature destruction to go unanswered. We hope you ensure we have the resources to continue this critical work.

http://onewisconsinnow.pnstate.org/site/Donation2?df_id=4740&4740.donation=form1

The fraudulent destruction or defacement of a recall petition is in violation of Wis. Stat. § 12.13(3)(a) and, as the Government Accountability Board has recently made clear, a Class I felony.

We cannot allow democracy to be threatened by those who would illegally destroy recall petitions with valid signatures on them.

We intend to keep you and the public informed about your rights during the signature gathering process and alert those who would engage in illegal conduct that they do so at their own peril.

Please support our effort for a fair and clean signature gathering effort. In the event no one becomes eligible for the reward funds, we will use any support for this effort to combat voter suppression.

The integrity of our elections is too important for us to sit back and do nothing.

Thank you for everything you do--

PS: To see the terms of the Reward Fund, please click here for all of the necessary information. Please contact us with any questions you have.

[Hutzpa]

1. K&R

This is important and hope more DUers can see your thead.


:kick:

[beac]

2. Really glad to hear about this! n/t

[karnac]

3. what's to prevent someone falsely obtaining signatures and failing to turn in?

What I mean is that one doesn't actually have to *destroy* a petition to make the petition invalid.

They can place themselves in front of a supermarket, or their paid signature gatherer, collect signatures and simply not turn it in in time. Or at all. OR fail to sign and certify.

I've been reading the statute in question, and if this was a BALLOT and not a mere petition, the legal protections are very adequately in place. But not so much for a recall petition.

Or am I wrong?