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Released: June 25, 2010

Petition signers should not expect their names to be kept secret

Source: Robert Barnes, Washington Post (Free Registration)

Those who sign referendum petitions should generally not expect to keep their names secret, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday, rejecting the argument of an anti-gay-rights group that disclosure would violate their First Amendment protection of political expression.

The court’s 8 to 1 decision upholding the state of Washington’s public-records law said states have valid reasons to disclose the names, offsetting any chilling effect that might have on a person’s decision whether to sign.

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