cannabisnews.com: Initiative Election Schedule Challenged





Initiative Election Schedule Challenged
Posted by CN Staff on January 27, 2004 at 18:17:53 PT
News Story
Source: Capital City Weekly 
Anchorage attorney Ken Jacobus filed a petition with the Superior Court today asking that the marijuana initiative certified by the Alaska Division of Elections be laced on the August Primary ballot as required by Alaska law. The initiative was filed with the Alaska Division of Elections on November 14, 2002. Based on this filing date, it is clear under the Alaska Statutes that this initiative should be placed on the ballot at the August 24, 2004, Alaska Primary Election, Jacobus said. However, on January 6, 2004, Lt Gov Loren Leman certified the hemp initiative for the November 2, 2004, Alaska General Election.
"This action has created a problem for the sponsors and signers of the initiative," Jacobus said. "The sponsors, and I, believe that the date for the election is required by law to be the Primary Election on August 24, 2004 Any subsequent litigation concerning signature verification notwithstanding, the filing date' was November 14, 2002. Shifting the initiative to the November ballot appears to be contrary to Alaska state law. "This issue must be judicially resolved prior to the election to ensure that the initiative is placed on the ballot at the legally correct election," Jacobus warned. "This initiative represents the interests of more than 50,000 Alaskan voters, and its certification reflects the efforts of scores of individuals who collected signatures for days and days in all kinds of Alaska's weather," Jacobus said. "They have carried this issue too far for too long to see its success put in Jeopardy by any further possible errors at the Division of Elections and the Lt Gov's office. "For this reason we are today filing suit to have the initiative placed on the August 2004 primary election ballot," Jacobus explained. "This will give the courts the opportunity to decide its correct placement prior to the election rather than afterwards." Source: Capital City Weekly (AK)Published: January 27, 2004Copyright: 2004 Capital City WeeklyContact: editor capweek.comWebsite: http://www.capweek.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Free Hemp in Alaskahttp://www.freehempinak.org/Leman Holds Firm on Election Date for Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18211.shtmlState Appeals Legal Pot Ruling http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18183.shtmlMarijuana Initiative Sponsors Suing State http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15306.shtml
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