Opponents of the state’s ban on single-use plastic bags deceived voters in their effort to try to overturn the new state law, according to a complaint filed by environmental groups with the state attorney general’s office.
The complaint stems from a referendum effort led by plastic bag manufacturers to overturn the new state law. Suporters of the ban say those groups willfully misled voters in their signature-gathering efforts.
Opponents of the ban have submitted signatures to county election officials to put the measure to a vote in November 2016. If the referendum qualifies, it will delay the implementation of the law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown until voters have their say.
“To ensure the integrity of the state referendum process is not tarnished by criminal behavior, we request an immediate investigation into these reports of voter fraud,” reads a letter from attorney Lance Olson reads on behalf of the ban proponents.