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Politics & Government

Maryland Certifies Nearly 50,000 Anti-DREAM Act Signatures

State Board of Elections certifies 47,000 signatures opposing DREAM Act - only 8,500 signatures still needed.

Opponents of the MD Dream Act are one step closer to letting voters decide if illegal immigrants should receive in-state tuition discounts when they attend college and university in the state.

Today, the State Board of Elections certified over 47,000 petition signatures, leaving petition sponsors with little more than 8,000 signatures to collect by the June 30 deadline.

“We issued the letter of certification to the petition sponsor [MDPetitions.com] today,” said Donna Duncan, Election Management Division Director, State Board of Elections. “There were 47,288 accepted signatures; 10,217 rejected signatures.  The group needs an additional 8,448.”

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MDPetitions.com formed only days after legislation granting undocumented immigrants in-state college tuition benefits narrowly passed in the final hours of the last day of this year’s legislative session. The state’s general assembly convenes for 90 days each year beginning on the second Wednesday in January and concluding around mid-April -- although this year a special session is scheduled for the fall to address the redistricting of legislative districts and potential tax increases.

For the first time in Maryland’s history, an electronic petition gathering system was used to collect signatures for a referendum process. Out of the 47,288 signatures certified by the state board, 17,092, or about one third, were computer generated, according to the state board of elections.

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The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland) and CASA de Maryland, an immigrants’ rights advocacy group, complained to the state board about the new electronic process in late May.  A 20-page ACLU letter complained of potential fraud and the “pre-filling of petition pages by the sponsor’s computer," which they say is illegal.

“Our intention was to work with the state board of elections to ensure that they understand our analysis of the petition system – that the petition system violates the state election law and is vulnerable to fraud,” said Meredith Curtis, ACLU spokeswoman. “We had originally hoped before any of the signatures were certified, they’d consider this matter separately.  The reality is we have not received a decision or response whatsoever from the state board.”

In response, the state board asked the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for guidance. Any response given to the state board by the OAG will remain confidential, according to OAG spokesman David Paulson.  However, a “conclusion to the issue” of concern may be made public by the state board in the future, Paulson said.

MDPetitions.com said the ACLU and CASA complaints are baseless and the ACLU specifically is hypocritical.  They are continuing to encourage petition signers to use their online system.

“In the case of the ACLU, their accusations are downright hypocritical considering their recent opposite petition position in Utah. [See Examiner article],” Parrott wrote in an email response to Patch.

While it seems likely petitioners will be able to gather enough signatures to meet their final goal, the threat of a lawsuit looms over their success.  When asked if the state board believed DREAM Act advocates would legally challenge the electronic petition gathering system, Duncan said, “It appears that they would, based on questions raised by the ACLU and CASA.” 

 “We do not comment generally on whether or not we’re planning to file a law suit,” Curtis said, while insisting the ACLU’s current focus is on resolving their issues with the state board.  However, their May 31 complaint letter seems to layout a legal argument.  CASA did not respond to media inquiries.

MDPetitions.com is being led by former Hagerstown Tea Party leader, Del. Neil Parrott, (R-Washington County), and anti-illegal immigrant activist, Del. Pat McDonough, (R-Baltimore County).

Sen. Victor Ramirez, (D-Prince Georges County), and Silver Spring Del. Sheila Hixson, (D), were the original co-sponsors of the bill, SB167, which is known as Public Institutions of Higher Education - Tuition Rates – Exemptions – the name that will appear on the 2012 ballot referendum should the petitioners be successful.

The remaining signatures Dream Act opponents need to collect are due
to the state board by June 30. If the required number of remaining signatures are submitted by that date, the new law will not gointo effect. If signatures are certified, the issue will be put to voters Nov., 2012.

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