Comments about ‘Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signs controversial signature-removal bill’

Why would someone want their signature removed from a petition. Just becaue one signs the petition does not mean they have to vote yes on the ballot come November...

Sounds kind of silly to me.

‘…Gov. Gary Herbert signed a controversial bill Saturday that will make it easier to remove signatures from a petition.’ - Article.


Thereby making it easier for our local legislature to ignore any petition by Utah citizens.
Thereby making it easier for Utah legislature to ignore Utah citizens.
Let me be clear.
I care, if Herbert had a 'hard personal time' signing this bill.
No one will care about Herberts feel-bads when he signed this, only that he did.
And for that reason, Herbert lost my vote.

And gained mine...

Why would someone want their signature removed from a petition.



They don't. Otherwise they wouldn't sign the petition to begin with.

Only the people who have to DO something about petitions want a way to remove the amount of signitures on them.

Silly man that Herbert! Doesn't sound like this man has a mind of his own!

Darrel, the reason someone might want to remove their signature from a petition is if they misunderstood what they were signing. I wouldn't want to sign a petition for something that I am against to be on a ballot even if I could vote against it at election time.

Pagan, I think you are being a bit dramatic. I don't see how allowing people to voluntarily change their minds and remove their signature from a petition allows the legislature to ignore the petition. It just gives people the ability to remove their name if they become more informed about an issue. Herbert's got my vote.

' It just gives people the ability to remove their name if they become more informed about an issue.' - 11:23 a.m.


Why would a person sign a petition he/she does not fully understand? Wouldn't a more effective way would be to contact the signer and verify if they want the signiture on the petition?
No, Matt, I will disagree. This is only allows to ask 'Are you SURE you want us to do 'X' thing?'

Instead of actually doing it.

If you are stupid enough to sign a petition with out doing the proper research on the subject then you should be stuck with your decision.

Matt: this means, understand the subject before you sign the petition. Take some responsibility for your actions.

I just see this "removal" process as a way for those against the petition to badgered those that signed the petition to have their names taken off. It's going to cause some down right dirty political tactics. Besides, how many people REALLY have wanted to remove their name from a petition? I haven't heard of any news stories where people are demanding this option. It just another political game and a silly one at that.

This governor has no values. He also believes he can steal public lands from the America people! Who teaches values in Utah?

they just dont want anyone in utah to vote on anything that they dont control. why else did they take the vote away from the west side on the school split. did we vote on it? no we did not. one of theses days they will just elliinate voters compltely . thus will they be able to make even more money for pay day lenders that charge more than loan sharks, only they are legal here in utah. pay day loans I mean. they can also give more sweet deals to companies so they dont have to pay certain taxes for awhile or free property tax or water rights like micron. look up some of this stuff it will make you ill. most of these deals make our local reps rich in some way or they could not afford to be in office. yea take a name off a petition. its just a pesky voter.

Next thing they will pass a law that you can call you after voting to see if you want to change your vote.
Do understand why they would pass these kind of laws.
Afterall we did vote them into office, so they figure, how smart could the public really be.
Maybe we should show them we are smart and educated voters by voting them all out.

@ Matt

Why be against something going on a ballot? If the measure is that bad, it won't get voted in.
If this ethics initative passes, are they going to let me change my vote if I become more "informed"?
The line has to be drawn somewhere.

After all the lies of the healthcare debate (death panels, fed $ for abortions, etc) why do you think those who sign petitions would be informed?

This bill solves what was a "problem" for .00001 percent of the people.

What are these paranoid legislators afraid of?
Participation by citizens?

As a point of order, I don't see the point to this legislation either. It's not as if a notarized note is difficult to obtain, most Bank's provide a free notary to their members. What this bill achieves then is remove some of the security involved in the petition process: now all you need is a signature and a driver's license number (both things a corrupt politician or a criminal or an overzealous political action group could get a hold of for dubious means.) A notary ensures your license get's checked, presumably by someone who can verify your identity, and that your signature is witnessed by a disinterested party.

I support the ability to remove my name from a petition. After what we saw the democrats do with the healthcare bill and the reconciliation of the legislature vs the vote. I want the option to remove my name until it becomes law!! You all are working off the basis that how the petition starts is how it is going to finish - That assumption has changed with this new political landscape!!

This is a good idea. Signature gatherers are less likely to use deceptive tactics to get people to sign petitions if they know that people can easily get their names removed once they find out the truth.

This only makes it easier for our legislator to do nothing. They will continue to find ways to 'get names removed' until there are none.
If our legislator was honest, they would listen to their voters.
What's next?
Votes just start disapearing? Not counted at all because you must be 'X' tall?

What foolishness.

No, I want my goverment to be accountable. With the depleted uranium and record deficit of Utah I want my reps to know just how much of a bad job they are doing.

This sort of thing could not happen in any other state.
Politicians would not dare to.
In CA they recalled their governor when they were not happy.
Here as long as it is a republican, they can take bribes, drive drunk, bath with minors, and they will still get elected.