ACLU Challenges Petition to Overturn DREAM Act
The American Civil Liberties Union argues the electronic petition form invites fraud.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland has sent a letter to the State Board of Elections, voicing its concerns about the electronic petition form currently being used to solicit signatures by a group that is attempting to overturn the DREAM Act.
The DREAM Act was passed by the Maryland State Legislature by a narrow margin earlier this year and will allow certain undocumented immigrants to attended Maryland state colleges at the discounted in-state tuition rate.
State Del. Neil Parrott is spearheading the effort to overturn the legislation, which is set to go into effect on July 1. The group is collecting signatures in a traditional way – sending out volunteers and canvassing the public. It has also built a website that allows registered voters to fill out a form online, print it out, sign it and mail it in.
It is the first time in Maryland history that this electronic method has been used to collect signatures for a petition that could potentially halt the implementation of legislation.
“I have been here for 10 years and I have not seen this technology before,” said Mary Cramer Wagner, the Director of Voter Registration for the State Board of Elections.
The ACLU letter argues that the online form could be “highly susceptible to fraud.”
ACLU staff attorney David Rocah directed Patch to a press release on the group’s website that outlines its argument.
“Any user who knows the name, ZIP code, and birth date of an individual can easily generate a petition for that person, forge the individual’s signature, and fraudulently verify the petition on the individual’s behalf,” the release states.
Cramer Wagner said the State Board of Elections has forwarded the ACLU’s concerns to the State Attorney General’s office for review.
Del. Parrott said about 60,000 unverified signatures have been submitted to date – about half of them coming from the online electronic form.
The group needs to collect 55,736 signatures, which will then be verified by the local Boards of Elections, in order to send the legislation to the public for a vote in November 2012. Parrott said he wants to collect 100,000.
“The computer interface and website is a tool that has been designed to enhance the democratic process,” Parrott said. “What the ACLU is doing in trying to hamper the democratic process is hypocritical … I think they are grasping at straws to try to disenfranchise as many Maryland voters as possible who have signed this petition in good faith.”
Del. Shawn Tarrant, D-District 40, was a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act, and said he hopes the law isn't overturned. But he also said that if those opposed were able to gather enough signatures to force a referendum he wouldn't want to stand in their way.
"If they followed the letter of the law, and they have the signatures, that's the process," Tarrant said.
The verification process will not be completed until late July. Signatures will continue to be collected through June 30.
ralahinn1
8:33 am on Friday, June 17, 2011
ACLU should not be questioning why the " Dream Act" may be overturned by the Citizens of Maryland expressing their wishes in a free and legal vote. They should be asking why the
" Dream Act" is not for everyone, not just the "illegal immigrants".
Sean Tully
3:08 pm on Friday, June 17, 2011
The "Dream Act" is for everyone who is a resident of Maryland. That is why they call it "in-state tuition".
I think the ACLU has this one right. Online petitions seem like online polls - not very reliable.
JustABill
4:49 am on Saturday, June 18, 2011
Mr. Tully, I am sorry to say you are either grosly missinformed or intentionally stating a false truth. The Dream Act is not for every resident of Maryland it is only for those who are Illegal Immigrants. You are also being misled or again just being deceptive regarding the Online version of the petition. The article clearly states that the "online petition" is simply a web site where the voters of Maryland can easily access the petition via the internet, fill in their information, print a hard copy, add their signature and then mail it into the state BOE. There is nothing unreliable about it and it is not a petition that is submitted through the internet or email. I hope you take a moment to actually read the Dream Act and also the information about the voter referendum so you are properly informed about the issues before you make any further comments or perhaps misinformed decisions.
Sean Tully
10:31 am on Saturday, June 18, 2011
JustABill, I was responding to ralahinn1's statement:
"They should be asking why the
" Dream Act" is not for everyone, not just the "illegal immigrants"."
My point is that the "Dream Act" doesn't cover everyone because all other Maryland residents already get in-state tuition.
JustABill
4:49 am on Saturday, June 18, 2011
What a shocker! Just so we have the facts straight here ... the ACLU is concerned that a LEGAL petition to bring a referendum to the voters of Maryland opposing a law passed by the Democrats in Annapolis that is for the sole benefit of people who are here in the United States of America ILLEGALLY might be subject to fraud. What about all the ILLEGAL immigrants living in Maryland that have been ILLEGALLY registered to vote? What about the people registered to vote at addresses in Baltimore City and all throughout Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties that are for businesses, or are at condemned buildings, vacant lots, or simple do not exist? What about the fact that you do not need to show any form of LEGAL identification when you go to vote even though it is a law in the state of Maryland for anyone 18 or over to possess either a drivers license or a state issued ID card at all times? What about the fact that we are talking about a law that was passed to only benefit people that are here ILLEGALLY??? I guess as long as they vote for Democrats all those pesky laws can simply be overlooked.
David Hyland
7:03 am on Saturday, June 18, 2011
Many went through Ellis Island to immigrate to this nation. My wife's family had 14 on Ellis Island , 2 stayed in quarantine. Now you show up and "PRESTO" instant "NEW AMERICAN" status. "IF YOU CAN VOTE ILLEGALLY, YOU’RE WELCOME IN MARYLAND, "NOW HERE'S $$$ for School". BEING AMERICAN means assimilating to the customs, SEEKING IMMIGRANT STATUS, learning the language, "not forcing your way in because your own nation is in distress and you can't find work. You come here for a better life without trying to fix issues in your own nations. Now we're responsible for your lives ? but you end up with better care than we have. BEING AMERICANS means making every effort to become productive members the USA. How many Americans have College tuition paid by taxpayers? it's not fair to Natural Americans born of LEGAL PARENTS? Dream Act forgets our sons and daughters and provides to a specific group 'WHERE'S THE ACLU NOW?. If we stood in the street getting signatures we would have the ACUL shooting off at the mouth. If you have doubts ACLU, pick up the phone and call the petitioner’s. How’s this, you name the place and time and the petitioner’s will come and sign again? Bet it wont happen! It's extremely bias of the ACLU to forget OUR KIDS. VOTERS have a right to have this on the ballot regardless of the ACLU's warped views. Name a place and we'll sign again. The ACLU Speaks out now? how long was the petition online? LET VOTERS SPEAK! DREAM ACT YES OR NO? Press 1 for UNFAIR
Sean Tully
10:32 am on Saturday, June 18, 2011
David, the "Dream Act" would not pay for tuition, it would give in-state tuition rates.
David Hyland
11:46 am on Saturday, June 18, 2011
Hmmmm
David Hyland
11:47 am on Saturday, June 18, 2011
Shouldn't voters be permitted to decide? Are we in a new government of the government? The people get shoved aside.
Sean Tully
1:56 pm on Sunday, June 19, 2011
Voters do decide who they want to represent them ever four years for state held positions. And, yes, citizens are allowed to petition and have the issue put to a vote. But, the question the ACLU is raising is is this petition a sound way of collecting needed signatures? That is the question.
Buzz Beeler
11:22 pm on Saturday, June 18, 2011
Sean, the state loses money based on the difference in rates. The loss occurs when the discount rated is applied instead of the full amount.
Look at this quote, "I have been here for 10 years and I have not seen this technology before,” said Mary Cramer ..."
Now read this quote, "The ACLU letter argues that the online form could be “highly susceptible to fraud.”
If the technology is new, does that constitute the criteria for potential fraud. Show me the evidence?
The ACLU is placing the cart before the horse. Like the robocall case, the crime takes place after the voting is complete and there is evidence which is gathered and investigated by the state AG. In this situation the ACLU is already assuming that a crime is about to be committed. As lawyers you would think they would know that. That is the difference between a liberal and conservative, and that difference is called FACTS!
Another left wing agenda whose policy is base in a bowl of fruit loops.
Sean Tully
1:59 pm on Sunday, June 19, 2011
Buzz, I am not really concerned about the "Dream Act" with this story. I am really commenting on the way the petition is being handled. I think that is the ACLU's issue too.
I have to admit that I have mixed feelings on the "Dream Act". If I had to cast my vote right this second, I would probably vote against it for several reasons.
RW
6:54 am on Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The ACLU took precisely the opposite position regarding online petitions in Utah ust a few months ago, filing a lawsuit to force that state to accept electronic petition signatures:
http://www.examiner.com/county-republican-in-baltimore/aclu-strongly-supports-online-petitions-if-it-serves-their-agenda
“...no valid reason exists to distinguish between e-signatures and handwritten signatures, so long as the intent of the signer is clear. Lt. Gov. Bell’s refusal to count any e-signatures violates Utah voters’ constitutional rights to use the initiative and referendum power, which is expressly reserved for the people in Article VI, Section 1 of the Utah Constitution.” The Utah ACLU used the case of an out-of-state student who says she was disenfranchised from signing the petition because of the inability to sign online. They also reference soldiers and missionaries as other individuals who are subject to possible disenfranchisement because they might be out of state during the petition drive.
It seems that the ACLU opposes online petitions if they like the current state legislature, but supports them if they do not like the current legislature.
David Hyland
8:07 am on Sunday, June 19, 2011
Bluntly, Elected Officials are sidestepping the "WE THE PEOPLE" part of the Government. We wake up and suddenly all these Speed Camera's are in place. They decide we need to pay higher gas taxes while while people can't afford to make ends meet as it is. Now tolls need to increase and the taxpayer is expected to foot the bill. When does the madness end? Our government is spending money our great great great grand kids will struggle to repay. "We the people", speak out and end up chastised or called RACISTS because we don't agree with the administrations way to "HOPE AND CHANGE". Lets get the dictionary and look up the word RACIST. It has nothing to do with Political disagreement. Any idiot knows you don't increase limits on Credit Cards when you can't afford to pay the bill. You "ACTUALLY READ BILLS (CONGRESS) before you inflict it's burdens on the Taxpayers, and if you SNEAK INTO A COUNTRY AND BREAK IT'S LAWS "YOU'RE ILLEGAL". We don't pick and choose which laws to obey LAW IS LAW. We obey them all, enforce them all, and the Supreme Court decides the difference. Tuition for children of Illegals is fine and good, AS LONG AS THE PARENTS COME FORWARD AND RESPECT THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS, GET GREEN CARDS, AND BECOME REAL "LEGAL" AMERICANS. You don't just show up and expect the " HOST NATION" to roll out the welcome mat. You don't reward bad behavior no matter how you try to justify it. ACLU fears a vote and is simply trying to stop it. To do so is to stop Democracy in action.
Sean Tully
2:01 pm on Sunday, June 19, 2011
David, we the people get our say every four years for elected officials in this state. We also get our voice with petitions. It is how this petition is being handled that is the question. As far as government doing things you may not like, that is where the every four year election thing comes into play. If you don't like it, change it, but just make sure you get more people to agree with you than the other side.
Buzz Beeler
1:18 am on Monday, June 20, 2011
Sean there are two truths that will bear themselves out during the next 50 years. In Europe the Moslum population will be the majority based on the birthrates.
In the U.S. the majority of the population will be Hispanic. In order to see the layout one must study the Latin American countries.
We are slowly losing our place in worlds ranking in a variety of areas including education, health care, manufacturing just to mention a few.
Some of the think tank types predict a situation like Brazil in which there will be a small pocket of well to do surrounded by abstract poverty.
The entitlements which if fueled by the left will leave this country down the path to a finical calamity. Some are predicting a stock market plunge.
The continued decline of the housing market, the raising gas prices, the European finical crisis and on and on.
Our language and culture are under attack and in 35 years this nation will be largely Hispanic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cudqYwp28Y
Sean Tully
4:09 pm on Monday, June 20, 2011
Buzz, if the Founding Fathers intended this country to forever be a white, with European ancestry, dominated nation, they kind of messed it up with how they wrote the Constitution. The "We" in the "We the people..." means Americans, no matter where they came from originally. If our country is majority Hispanic in 35 years, it will still be the United States of America.
Buzz Beeler
5:14 pm on Monday, June 20, 2011
Sean, I would suggest you study history especially the rise and fall of the Roman Empire.
History and reality trump idealistic views. The we you speak of seems to be involved in more and more home grown terrorism.
WWII was not a cowboy story and could have ended entirely different. The struggles in the Middle East have been around for thousands of years. The fate of Israel could go either way just as the current unrest in the Middle East.
They weren't playing tag in the civil war.
The average life of a society is around, give or take a few, 400 years.
In the same about of time our culture will change so will that of Europe. Europe will become a Muslim content.
I wonder if you would be making the same claim if this country became a radical view of Jehaid. The founding fathers did not foresee that either. Its all about birth rates. The Mongols and Goths are now just a foot note that most people never heard of.
There is no story book on the reality of life and you just saw the impact on the U.S. Open broadcast. Maybe you should read the news on that one. I'm sure the founding fathers never thought of that one either.
Sean Tully
9:29 am on Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Buzz, I think my piont is that even if everything you say is true, and that it is somehow bad, there is nothing we can do unless we change the Consititution. Is that what you are advocating?
david bricker
7:06 am on Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Typical. The only defense this "White Comment". The Racist Card again! "Lets turn the light off and see if anyone is smarter"? POLICY IS POLICY AND LAW IS LAW. PLAYING THE RACE CARD IS A DEFLECTION FROM THE ISSUE AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT. Suddenly if we don't like a law we can toss it aside and move on to a better one. Let me say this again: I don't care if you come from Mars as long as you FOLLOW THE LAW. APPLY FOR A VISA, COMPLETE THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS, AND GET YOUR GREEN CARD TO STAY IN AMERICA "DONE". Once you've done this, you've followed this nations requirements to become an American Citizen and are ENTITLED TO IT'S BENEFITS. Now let me say this : If you come here in a rail car, in the trunk of a car, sneak across the boarder, and DO NOT FOLLOW THE LAW OF THIS NATION, "YOU ARE OFFICIALLY -ACCORDING TO THE US GOVERNMENT, "AN ILLEGAL ALIEN". Now, since ILLEGALS CAN GO AND GET DRIVERS LICENSES AND REGISTER "ILLEGALLY REGISTER" TO VOTE, THIS "GLITCH" IS OVERLOOKED. In order to LEGALLY vote you must be a CITIZEN OF THIS NATION. Politicians don't enforce the Federal Immigration law because of ILLEGAL THE VOTE "NO SECRET". Do you think that's fair to all the people who paid money and immigrated legally? So now we reward them by giving their kids tuition? LETS MAKE THEM COME OUT AND REGISTER FIRST! My kids can't get tuition or special treatment for being LEGAL AMERICANS. Looks like a way to get VOTES TO ME!
Buzz Beeler
11:24 am on Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Sean countries have borders for a reason. We have existing laws that are being ignored by pandering politicians.
My comments are based in fact. Humane behavior is predictable and rooted in scientific study.
I live in a very diverse and multicultural neighborhood and I see the divides on a daily basis. You don't need structured walls to create division. It occurs naturally through humane nature.
I am 63 and during my childhood there were no hyphens in front of the word American. This country is as divided today as any time in its history.
The constitution is supposed to be a living and breathing document. To assume that our forefathers could foresee into the future and the complexities we face today is rooted in idealism and not reality.
If for example we were to allow for all immigrants to enter this country unchecked, can you imagine the security issues we would face.
If you listened to the interview the speaker mentions the Clinton's and the president. Its the proverbial "Do as I say, don't do as I do."
Take a look at Europe and see the issues they are facing. Go back and read the Bible and then look at the strife in the Middle East.
What people don't understand and ignore is HUMANE NATURE!