Washington referendum supporters turn in signatures to be counted and verified
Backers of Referendum 71 brought in what they estimate are 138,000 voter signatures on Saturday, hoping to win a November ballot spot for a public vote on the state’s new “everything but marriage” domestic partnership bill. State election crews opened the Secretary of State’s executive offices on Saturday, the deadline for submitting referendum petitions. Several dozen backers and foes attended the turn-in at 3 p.m., which was low-key and without speeches on either side.