The First Circuit is upholding a preliminary injunction in Maine. There is a mandate that only residents of Maine who are registered to vote there can gather signatures for ballot proposals. This likely violates the First Amendment. There are reportedly only six licensed petition circulators in the entire state. The state law substantially restricts Maine residents’ capacity to place referendums on the ballot. This is according to the Boston-based appeals court. In a 63-page opinion, Chief U.S. Circuit Judge David Barron stated that the law prohibits individuals who want to propose legislation from reaching into a pool of more than 250 million individuals of voting age to aid in the collection of signatures. Also to engage in face-to-face communication designed to bring about political change that accompanies that collection of signatures. According to Obama appointee Barron, the First Amendment probably forbids a state rule. It dramatically limits the number of persons, both…