by Kathleen Gilbert
OLYMPIA, WA, July 28, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pro-family advocates in Washington say they have gathered 138,000 signatures in support of Referendum 71, a pro-natural marriage referendum. The signatures were handed in to the Secretary of State at the deadline last Saturday. 120,577 signatures were required to put R-71 on the November ballot.
The referendum would allow voters to decide whether to elevate homosexual partnerships to the level of marriage. If the state verifies enough of the signatures, it will put on hold recently-passed legislation that gives registered heterosexual and homosexual domestic partners the same benefits as married spouses.
The Secretary of State's office this week said that the numbers were too close to call, as a significant percentage of signatures are usually found to be invalid. Secretary of State spokesman David Ammons called the final tally within the "iffy range."
A final tally is expected to be announced within one to two weeks.
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