(The Center Square) – A Washington state bill would create a “buffer zone” between signature gatherers and individuals opposed to the initiatives or referendums, in an effort to prevent conflicts between the two groups.
Last year, Let’s Go Washington collected signatures for six ballot initiatives, some of which have already been certified for the November ballot. However, the organization has accused several groups of interfering and harassing their signature gatherers to the point where law enforcement was called to the locations. Opponents of the initiatives set up a “hotline” where people could report signature gathering locations as well as physical descriptions of the signature gatherers.
Sponsored by Rep. Greg Cheney, R-Battle Ground, House Bill 2205 would set up a 25-foot physical barrier around people collecting signatures in which people are prohibited from interfering. The bill would also prohibit individuals from using electronic devices to make it too loud for individuals in that buffer zone to be heard.
Speaking at a Wednesday public hearing in the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee, Cheney told colleagues that “the purpose of the bill is to give some breathing space for folks who are both exercising their First Amendment rights.
Among the bill’s supporters is Secretary of State Steve Hobbs. SOS Legislative Director Brian Hatfield told the committee that “it’s important that everyone on any side of any issue should be protected and have their rights. I know this past summer, the folks gathering signatures tended to be from the right side of the political spectrum, but next summer it could be folks from the left side. It should be something that’s fair for everyone.”
Also testifying in favor was independent podcaster and journalist Brandi Kruse, who helped gather signatures for the Let’s Go Washington initiatives last year. She told the committee that “this bill is really simply about just aligning the way we protect all facets of the democratic process.”
“Frankly it’s a little disappointing that bills like this are necessary,” she added. “There is some disagreement about the value of our initiative process. As long as it exists it’s our duty to protect it and it’s our collective duty to speak up.”
The bill drew indirect critics from several grocery store associations that weren’t opposed to the bill itself but argued that greater legal clarification around the legal use of their storefronts for signature gathering is also needed.
According to Charlie Brown testifying on behalf of Fred Meyer, several stores had signature gatherers on their premises without their permission and refused to leave when asked. However, he said law enforcement refused to trespass those individuals due to ambiguity over whether they constitute a public space like a mall.
“Frankly….our customers and our staff are having their peaceable enjoyment of going and buying food being interrupted,” he said. “We are not a public place.”
Kathy Sakahara with the Northwest Progressive Institute argued that the bill “prohibits speech” for opponents of an initiative or referendum.
“The bill only refers to people collecting signatures,” she said. “There’s another way to participate in the process, and that is to share with someone who is considering signing a petition what I believe to be the truth, what someone believes to be true.”
She added that elections, which have a similar type of buffer zone for voters, is “completed unrelated. It does not say if you’re paid by a billionaire to do something you can say whatever you’re but if you’re motivated only by compassion and love and concern for your fellow human beings, you can’t speak at all.”
No further action is scheduled for HB 2205.
