R-T-V Initiative: It’s a Wrap

By the time most blog readers see this update, the Mission Viejo Right-To-Vote Initiative petitions will be in the hands of the city clerk. The signature-gathering phase officially ends Mon., Jan. 26.

The number of valid signatures to qualify for the ballot is 6,200 (10 percent of registered voters who live in Mission Viejo). The final count exceeded 11,000 signatures. Did they go overboard getting more than needed? Several of the initiative’s volunteers had worked on similar projects and learned of potential challenges. In the 2005 effort to recall all seven CUSD trustees, Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley decided to throw out one third of 177,000 signatures, which stopped the recall. As a result of his actions, Kelley continues to fight lawsuits. He broke laws, which he refers to as “making mistakes.”

If the RoV deems that at least 6,200 of the signatures are valid, the R-T-V Initiative will qualify for the next General Election. If the RoV counts at least 9,300 valid signatures, it will qualify for a special election. The initiative’s proponents hope it will appear on the statewide ballot this spring. The state election is anticipated but not yet scheduled, and officials are discussing dates in April, May and June.

Thank you to all who gathered signatures and helped to move the initiative forward. It took everyone to do it, and any success is the result of Mission Viejo residents’ widespread support.