The Humane Society of the United States and GREY2K USA, a greyhound protection agency, have won the first step in their bid to eliminate slot machines in two South Florida counties. They were contesting the list of signatures that got the slot machine initiative on the ballot in the first place. They argue that the list of signatures is invalid; that thousands of those signatures were forged - including at least three dozen dead people. They say that if the petition got on the ballot illegally, then the vote should be reversed. 

The 1st District Court of Appeal agrees with them. They ruled that a favorable popular vote does not automatically validate a defective constitutional amendment. Only in the case where there were minor defects would it be reversed. “These assertions are not minor, technical defects,” wrote Judges Ricky Polston and Paul Hawkes. This goes against Circuit Judge Nikki Ann Clark’s ruling, where she said that the election cured any wrongdoing; that the people had, in effect, spoken. 

The amendment was narrowly approved the first time and now if it is reversed, it may not end up passing a second time. The Humane Society President and CEO Wayne Pacelle said, “We’re against greyhound racing and the slots prop up a dying industry. This is a way to keep the dogs racing.” Needless to say, the two groups have to be buoyed by the new ruling.

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