More Time Will Be Given to Verify Signatures

1/26/12 – A judge in Madison is giving state officials more time to determine if there are enough valid signatures to order recall elections. Also Wednesday, Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess gave the Republican recall targets more time to challenge improper signatures. An estimated one-point-nine million signatures were filed eight days ago, demanding recall votes against Governor Scott Walker, Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, and Senators Scott Fitzgerald, Pam Galloway, Terry Moulton, and Van Wanggaard. Under state law, the Government Accountability Board has 31 days to certify recall petitions. But due to the sheer numbers, Niess granted an extra 30 days. He also gave the Walker and Kleefisch campaigns 30 days to challenge signatures once they receive copies of all their petitions. Kleefisch had not received any petitions as of Monday, even though the existing law would have given her until Friday to review them all. The four senators have their petitions, and the judge gave them 20 days to file challenges. Their new deadline is February ninth.