Doe v. Reed
United States Supreme Court
130 S. Ct. 2811 (2010)
Relevant factsFree
Washington's referendum process required petition signers to list their names and addresses, and its Public Records Act (PRA) let private parties request copies of validated petitions. Two advocacy groups (defendants) requested a copy of a petition seeking a referendum on a law extending benefits to same-sex marriage. Signers of the petition (plaintiffs) sued to block disclosure of their names and addresses, arguing it would violate their First Amendment rights.
IssueFree
Whether the First Amendment allows a state to impose disclosure requirements in an electoral context when the requirements are substantially related to an important government interest.