Fun_People Archive
4 Nov
Marijuana Vote Results Kept Secret

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From: Peter Langston <psl>
Date: Wed,  4 Nov 98 14:43:33 -0800
To: Fun_People
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Subject: Marijuana Vote Results Kept Secret

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Forwarded-by: Nev Dull <nev@bostic.com>
Forwarded-by: Larry Hunter <hunter@intr.net>

"Marijuana Vote Results Kept Secret"

By Peter Slevin and Caryle Murphy
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, November 4, 1998; Page A37

Voters made their choices, machines counted ballots, but the results of the
District's medical marijuana initiative must remain secret to comply with
rules passed by Congress, the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics decided.

To avoid crossing Congress, election workers used white-out to hide the
results on computer printouts, said Kenneth McGhie, elections board general
counsel.

Tabulated yeas and nays on Initiative 59 cannot be announced, the board
concluded, because Congress barred the District from spending money to carry
out any ballot initiative that would legalize drugs or reduce penalties for
their use, possession or sale.

© 1998 Peter Langston