When someone refuses to put their name on a petition, they are essentially saying that they are in opposition to it, or otherwise don't want it on the ballot. That is how the average voter takes it, at least, and after any lengthy explanation to the contrary there will always be doubt in their heads. The voter will either think less of the particular petition, or less of the person refusing to sign it.

I'm a man who believes in certain absolutes. In many cases, things are black or white, yes or no, right or wrong, good or evil. There is no "gray" area for impartiality when it comes to the truly important issues of the day. You are either for something or against it. To what degree and in what manner are the only variables, but you are still either in favor or in opposition to some degree.

I don't want to insult any town clerks or other elections officials out there, but I fear you are abandoning your own rights under false pretenses. You think you must hide your allegiance, and pretend to have no opinion on matters that you have every right to care about, and likely do feel strongly about one way or another. You should not refuse to support a petition you agree with, because by refusing you are, in effect, rejecting it. Where is the logic in that?

Election workers are not jurors, and petitions are not defendants or plaintiffs in a courtroom. There is no need for public servants to be impartial when it comes to a simple matter of signing their name to put something on the ballot. I say to every such official in Maine, and across America; if you agree with a petition, sign it. If not, refuse, but don't hide behind the paper curtain of impartiality. There is no such thing when it comes to such matters of public interest. Do not act as if you are ashamed of your beliefs, and don't be afraid to sign a petition that you believe in. If you honestly oppose a petition, admit it, but don't refuse to sign out of some imaginary need to be impartial. You did not lose any of your Constitutional Rights when you accepted your noble positions in public life. You can still conduct yourselves in a fair and civil manner and retain your right to say yes or no to signature gatherers. Please do every citizen the honor and courtesy of exercising those rights. Sign, or don't, but don't abstain.

As a concluding aside, I fear that it is mostly Conservative workers who have adopted this belief that they must be impartial. I have encountered left-leaning poll workers, and they are never reluctant to voice their opinion on issues or sign their names to the causes they support. This is another reason Conservatives are handicapped in the political arena. We are not playing by the same rules as the left. We hide and try to be polite, while the opposition is shouting from the rooftops. It has to stop, and we must not be afraid to stand up for our beliefs.