Secretary of State Questions Validity of Signatures for Medical Marijuana Petition

LINCOLN–(KFOR Oct. 7)–Roughly 100,000 signatures between two petitions gathered by Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana are now under scrutiny.

That’s according to Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen’s office.

Evnen filed an amended claim to his cross-claim against the sponsors of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana on Friday. Initially, the filing asked the court to remediate any issues should it find enough invalid signatures to decertify both medical marijuana petitions. The new claim, however, calls into question whether or not the vast majority of the signatures gathered for the ballot petitions are valid.  The new filing also shows that evidence of “circulator fraud, notarial malfeasance, or both” in at least 71 counties has been identified.

Michael Egbert of Grand Island is accused of fabricating 202 signatures on a few dozen petition sheets. He brought those signatures to notary public Jacy Todd of York at a dispensary in Grand Island, and authorities say Todd notarized the signatures without the presence of Egbert.