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Judge’s call on civil unions puts spotlight on voter signatures



SALEM (AP) — The recent decision by a federal judge to block a law allowing gay couples to form civil unions in Oregon has cast a spotlight on whether a signature on a petition can be equated to a vote on the ballot.

U.S. District Judge Michael Mosman on Friday suspended the law, set to take effect with the new year. Mosman has set a Feb. 1 court date for lawyers to argue whether elections officials wrongly threw out signatures on petitions that would have forced a referendum vote on domestic partnerships. The outcome of the case will be closely watched by political activists. Elections officials are also paying close attention, concerned that an improbably high standard for verifying the validity of signatures could compromise their ability to carry out elections.

‘‘This is not going to affect just this one referendum,’’ said Scott Moore, spokesman for Secretary of State Bill Bradbury.




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