Punishment for bogus signatures

The problem is, they have taken most the checks and balances out of the petition system. It used to be that circulaters took a class, now there is only instructions on a website. They also had to get the petitions notarized. There is no requirement for a third party verification anymore. The petitions can be downloaded, so anyone can be a circulater. When they are done, they are supposed to sign their name to this statement: "I personally circulated this petition and personally obtained each of the signatures on this paper. I know that the signers are electors of the jurisdiction or district represented by the office holder named in this petition. I know that each person signed the paper with full knowledge of its content on the date indicated opposite his or her name. I know their respective residence given. I support this recall petition. I am aware that falsifying this certification is punishable under S. 12.13(3)(a), Wis. State."

Looks like they need those checks and balances back. And, yes, there should be punishment. Make them spend a week learning about what they were petitioning against - all sides.

Well if its punishable under S 12.13(3)(a). Then doesn't that answer the question? Before we make a huge deal out of punishing for false signatures. We really have to take a practical look at the situation. A petition first and foremost is rarely used to make a big change if any. Usually if its that big of an issue lots of voters will already be notifying their reps. It takes a lot of work and often multiple circulators of a petition to get enough signatures as the system stands right now. A simple signing allows for duplicate or false signatures if people don't pay attention, but it also protects the privacy of the signers. If you can get enough signatures with 90% validity your doing about as good as can be expected. The voting system is regulated and less than 100% accurate to say the least. To have a highly regulated petition system would be costly and effectively render a simple but effort intensive process useless. Then look at the criminal aspect. It might make people afraid of circulating petitions since even in the best conditions people may sign multiple times or with a false name or id. Then imagine the burden of proof of combing through to find bogus signatures and having to prove beyond reasonable doubt the circulator put them there. Its simply neither prudent nor practical under normal circumstances to try and prosecute a petition based on a few bad signatures. The system isn't great, but its rarely used and even more rarely effective. So aside from a few very rare cases of blatant abuse, it functions pretty well given real world limitations.