On Friday June 6, we received word that the Maui County Clerk had certified another 4,342 signatures on the Shaka Movement's GMO Moratorium. With the previous certified signatures, that brought the total to 9,062 which is over 20% of the voters in the last election. Maui County has a high bar for initiative qualification and this is the first time in history that an initiative has successfully qualified.
Previous to this, organizers had turned in what they thought were sufficient signatures but well over half were disqualified. Reasons included not registered to vote, illegible, wrong or incomplete registered address.
Shaka Movement had about 10 days to supplement the signatures and try for enough valid ones to make it on to the ballot.
Their success means the GMO Moratorium will be on the ballot in November. Shaka Movement members are gearing up for a grass roots get-out-the-vote effort.
Monsanto put up a real fight with signs and ads urging people not to sign the moratorium.
The challenge will be to get the 54% of the voters who favor the moratorium to vote on Nov. 4.
10:54 PM PT:
Mark Sheehan, organizer, hears from Maui County Clerk that the GMO Moratorium petition has qualified. Photo Credit Heather Salmon