WAILUKU, Maui — Activists have submitted more than 9,000 additional signatures to the Maui County Clerk’s office in support of a moratorium on growing or testing genetically modified organisms.
The citizens’ initiative must have valid signatures of 8,465 registered Maui County voters to appear on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.
The Maui News reports Sustainable Hawaiian Agriculture for the Keiki and the Aina Movement has so far gathered 4,720 valid signatures. It needs another 3,745 for the initiative to go forward this year.
About half of the more than 9,700 signatures the group submitted last month were invalidated.
SHAKA Movement spokesman Bruce Douglas says the group is confident it will meet the goal after submitting 9,376 more signatures on Tuesday.
The clerk’s office has 10 days to verify the new signatures.