Revealing petition-signers' names disputed

SEATTLE, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- A legal battle over the release of the names of people who signed a Washington State petition on same-sex marriage could have big ramifications, analysts say.

Washington residents voted last week to uphold a new state to expand gay and lesbian rights in a Referendum 71. Victorious gay rights advocates want to publish the names of residents who signed the petition that forced the referendum, but a conservative group is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block the public release of the names, SeattlePI.com reported Monday.

A decision could have far-reaching impacts on Washington's initiative and referendum process as well as on other "open government" such as disclosure of who contributes to political campaigns, and how much they give, experts told the Web site.

Loyola Law School professor Richard Hasen said a court decision to prohibit the public release of initiative and referendum signers' names would be troublesome.

"Does disclosure to the public of the names of signers add to the anti fraud goal of making sure the petition has the legally required number of valid signatures, or can that be accomplished (in other ways)?" asked Columbia University Law School professor Richard Briffault.