HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM. 036 Sims, S - Signatures on Petitions9.10.09
One of the proposed Charter Commission changes for recall petitions is that petitioners
would be required to list their name,date of birth and the last four digits of their Social
Security numbers on the petition.This proposed change would make it more difficult to
gather signatures on a petition because it asks for private information that most people
will be unwilling to provide.That’s because these petitions,passed around hand to
hand,could easily become raw material for identity theft.
Let me give you an example.When I want to make a financial transaction by phone with
my bank or investment firm,they want to be sure that I am who I am representing
myself to be.They ask for my name,my date of birth and the last four digits of my
Social Security number.Voila!
I see no reason for this change except perhaps to impede the petition process.From a
politician’s point of view that might be desirable,but not for voters or taxpayers.This is
not a change which will improve the process and I recommend against it.
Regards,Skip Sims
North Hilo
COMM. 36