The ACLU
of California has come up with a new reason for opposing the right of
Californians to sign official initiative petitions online. According to their spokesperson:
We are concerned that
e-signature gathering could be used to more easily qualify initiatives that
seek to limit fundamental rights, so we do not support the use of e-signature
gathering to qualify initiatives at this time.
“Of course, we’re disappointed,”
said Marc Strassman, Executive Director of the Coaliton for an E-Initiative (https://www.facebook.com/CoalitionForAnEInitiative). “I have the utmost respect for the ACLU of
California as the premier guardian of our civil and political rights, and as a
progressive and forward-looking organization, but I don’t quite see how enabling
Californians to sign initiative petitions in the comfort and convenience of
their homes and offices or on their tablets or smartphones from wherever they
are is likely to lead to initiatives ’that seek to limit fundamental rights.”
(full disclosure: Marc Strassman is also the reporter who wrote
this article. In addition to his work
for the Coalition for an E-Initiative, he also serves as Host/Publisher of
Etopia News.)
