Dear Editor:

Recently I had the privilege of collecting signatures on a citizens’ minimum wage increase initiative for the 2016 ballot. One person was angry that petitions were even allowed in spite of the fact that Maine has a long history of exercising this right.

I quickly researched the history of direct democracy in the United States. It seems the people’s right to petition is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The first use of this right was to end the practice of slavery. There were 130,000 such requests in the 1830s. Initially the right to petition was only to federal legislatures — later it expanded to cover all state and federal courts and legislatures, including executive branches of state and federal governments. The right to use direct democracy is a basic part of the rights endowed in free speech. It protects the rights of all citizens.

Maine has a long and proud history of exercising this citizen right to choose direct democracy. Through Skowhegan Republican Roland T. Patten’s efforts Maine was the first eastern state to adopt a constitutional provision for statewide initiative and referendum.

The first initiative on the state ballot was a 1911 law mandating the nomination of state and county candidates by popular vote in primary elections, rather than in party conventions. Our citizens have successfully utilized this constitutional right ever since.

So the next time you see volunteers collecting signatures, you might want to thank them even though you are against the measure. These citizens have been working on behalf of every citizen keeping our right to direct democracy alive in Maine.

Jarryl Larson

Edgecomb