Thousands more signatures on Nebraska medical marijuana petitions under scrutiny
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Nebraska secretary of state is calling into question more signatures on the medical marijuana petitions.
In a Friday court filing, Secretary of State Bob Evnen said an investigation by the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office has found evidence of widespread fraud.
SEE ALSO: Nebraska judge dismisses 2 challenges to medical marijuana petitions, lets 2 others stand
Last month, a petition circulator in Hall County, Michael Egbert, was charged on allegations that he submitted fraudulent signatures.
Then last week, a public notary who notarized some of Egbert’s pages was charged with official misconduct.
SEE ALSO: Nebraska secretary of state certifies medical marijuana ballot initiatives
But Evnen’s new filing says law enforcement has found evidence of fraud by circulators or “malfeasance” by notaries in 71 other counties.
Evnen argues that all petition pages connected to those circulators and notaries are tainted and that those signatures have lost their “presumption of validity.”
He said the AG’s investigation “casts serious doubt” on the validity of about 49,000 signatures the petition that would legalize medical marijuana.
The secretary of state is asking a judge to determine how many signatures are valid and whether the measures should remain on the ballot.
Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, the sponsor of the petitions, released a statement Monday criticizing Evnen.
“It is appalling that the State of Nebraska is working to silence and disenfranchise the voices of tens of thousands of Nebraskans based on primarily unsubstantiated technical issues,” the organization said. “These issues have absolutely nothing to do with the more than 115,000 voters who signed each of these petitions, or the dedicated patients and Nebraska citizens who worked hard to get the issue on the ballot. We will continue to fight for patients in this state and for election integrity to protect the voice and vote of Nebraska citizens.”
