Supporters of Referendum 71, who want a statewide vote on the expansion of domestic partnership rights to same sex and elderly couples, have obtained a court order blocking the release of their petitions.

    The development came Thursday as the Secretary of State’s office was working to confirm nearly 138,000 signatures submitted last week to block the legislation from becoming law.

    A state election crew has completed a raw count of the voter signatures that were submitted by sponsors of Referendum 71, the effort to force a statewide vote on the new domestic-partner expansion, according to state department Communications Director Dave Ammons.

    The tally stands at 137,689, or about 14 percent more than the bare minimum needed to win a place on the state ballot, according to Ammons. Checkers will begin verifying signatures today.

    The historic average error rate is 18 percent, so it’s unclear at this point whether the referendum will qualify, according to Ammons.

    As for the court order, a Sept. 3 court hearing is set on whether to make the ban on releasing names permanent or to lift it.

    The so-called “everything but marriage” act, which was passed by the Legislature earlier this year, stipulates that same-sex couples, or any couple that includes one person age 62 or older, may register as a domestic partnership with the state. The bill would extend to domestic partners and their families all rights, responsibilities and obligations granted by state law to married couples and their families.