Latest numbers show Referendum 71 results will be close

The process of verifying signatures for Referendum 71 is nearly over. By Tuesday, state election officials think they’ll know if it qualifies for the November ballot.

Of course, having enough signatures may not be good enough because of a lawsuit filed last week challenging many of the signatures counted as valid.

If there are not enough signatures, look for sponsors to ask a court to intervene. They think the state improperly rejected petitions back on July 25 and have a few complaints of their own about the verification process.

As the workers arrive Monday, here’s where it stands:

137,689 signatures turned in
129,996 signatures have been checked

120,577 signatures of registered voters needed
114,583 have been ruled valid so far

17,112 signatures can be rejected and the referendum still qualify
15,413 have been rejected

12.4 is the maximum percentage of rejected signatures and still qualify
11.86 is the current rejection percentage