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In Minnesota, there are a limited number of situations when the
statutes allow for putting a particular question on a ballot for
voters approval. Nothing prevents petition collectors to use the ones
where they claim that required number of signatures has been reached
(though sometimes its not true) as leverage for back-door
negotiations. The idea is to trade a promise of a favorable [for that
special interest group] future decision by commissioners for non-filing
a petition.
An Administrative Rule regulates petition forms. It requires, among
other items, that each petition page must include the statement: "All
information on this petition is subject to public inspection." As
written, the Rule does not distinct between the filed and not yet filed
petitions. Can a person force the petition collectors to allow them
said inspection while it is still in the hands of collectors?
Or maybe one can obtain an order to collectors to file a petition even
if only a few signatures have been collected (or establish another form
of inspection access)? And the order not to destroy any signed pages?
Is it plausible? If so, would obtaining such kind of order require a
civil suit? Or it could be done by the People?, e.g. a County Attorney
is concerned that people are defrauded when they are offered to sign
something promising inspection but, at the end, cannot do it?
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