People collecting signatures to repeal a pro-Trans Youth law in Washington state are lying to unsuspecting shoppers and saying they’re collecting signatures for an initiative to lower gas prices. They seem most prevalent in the Puyallup area so far.
@biplanepilot I wonder if this is even illegal
@b_cavello I’m digging through the state laws now, but I doubt it’s legal
trans rights, uspol, wa elections law
@biplanepilot
My lay opinion:
It's a violation of RCW 29A.84.250(2) to pay workers based on number of petition signatures they get.
I'm guessing that particular law isn't being broken here, so why does it matter? Well, the legislature indicates in RCW 29A.84.280 that allowing that kind of payment would encourage, among other things, "misrepresenting the nature or effect of a ballot measure". This clearly shows some intent by the legislature to prevent such things.
Also, it's a violation of RCW 29A.84.250(4) to use any "corrupt means or practice" to "interfere" with a voter signing or not signing a petition. Manipulating a voter with blatant lies certainly seems corrupt to me, but it might be difficult to convince a judge that it's "interference".
On the plus side, I bet they'll fail to get enough signatures by the 90-day deadline if they keep getting shooed away fast enough.
