Local elections officials throughout the state have begun validating signatures on the anti-DREAM Act petition.
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Opponents of the bill turned in, by their estimate, about 62,000 signatures to the state earlier this week.

They need to have 18,579 signatures from valid Maryland voters to keep the petition drive alive. By the end of June, they need more than 55,736.

If they hit that number - which represents 3 percent of the votes cast for governor last year - then voters will get to decide the fate of the DREAM Act during the 2012 election.

The DREAM Act allows illegal immigrant students to pay in-state college tuition rates under certain circumstances. It was one of the most hotly debated issues during the recent 90-day General Assembly session.

So far, elections officials counted 4,496 valid signatures and 612 invalid signatures.

The state Board of Elections plans to update the total on its website as counting continues. Counting must be complete by June 20.

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