Petition Signature Gathering Tips
- Your most used phrase should be "YOUR SIGNATURE JUST GETS US ON THE BALLOT".
- Signature gathering is not the time to argue the merits of our initiative. If you find someone wants to have a heated discussion offer to give them a copy of the title and summary or a petition to read and move on.
- A good rule of thumb is for every hour you spend in a crowded location you will gather approximately 25 signatures.
- Where to collect signatures: Signature-gathering is most fruitful where there is heavy foot traffic and where it is easy for people to stop and talk. Any public place is fair game for collecting signatures, since signature gathering is legal on all public property. Events are good places to gather signatures. Other suggested locations include supermarkets, libraries, post offices and department stores. Gathering signatures in store parking lots is all right as long as you are not asked to leave by managers. If you are unsure whether a particular store will allow you to gather signatures near their entrance consider either speaking with the managers beforehand or commence signature collection but be ready to leave if asked by store personnel. Gathering signatures in pairs can be good for morale. You can also collect signatures from friends, family, colleagues and neighbors.
- Introducing the issue: Begin by asking whether the person is registered to vote in the city of Seattle. If they answer in the affirmative, ask something like "would you like to sign a petition to end the war in Iraq?" and then explain the specifics of the referendum. When introducing the petition to potential signees, it is important to be as direct as possible. Your mission is not to convince people of your position but rather to collect signatures from people who support having this referendum put on the ballot. However, you should be ready to respond to basic factual questions. Click here for a list of some frequently asked questions about this campaign. Just remember that turning a signature-gathering event into a mini-debate is not helpful for the signatures gathering process. It should be noted that someone who is concerned with aspects of the referendum could still sign the petition since signing does not amount to a judgment but rather merely supports putting the issue before voters. If someone says that they do not want to sign the petition a simple "thank you for your time" is all that is needed.
Other helpful hints:
- When you go out to collect signatures, it is recommended that you have something hard and mobile for people to write on. This could mean clip-boards or pieces of cardboard with rubber bands to hold the paper to the cardboard.
- Make sure the person signing is a registered voter. Ask if they have moved and whether the address they are putting down on the petition is where they are actually registered to vote. If address and district don't match, it is considered an invalid signature and will be thrown out. (Invalid signatures are worse than no signatures as it increases the number of valid signatures needed. It works against the statistical validity of signatures, making the number of signatures required actually greater.)
- If petitioning in an area with heavy foot traffic, consider carrying several boards for people to sign (as many as six, depending on how many people are walking by). Also remember to carry a sufficient number of pens with you in case one runs out. All signings must be in blue or black ink.
- Consider bringing along voter registration forms when you gather signatures. If you encounter someone who has not registered to vote, ask if they would like to register by filling out the form. Once someone has filled out a voter registration form they can then sign the petition if they so choose provided that the forms are registered prior to the termination of the petition period. Send in the filled out voter registration forms you collect to the specified office.
- If someone you meet is very supportive, ask them if they would like to help gather signatures as well. All they need is a copy of your signature sheets (with the proposed referendum language at the top) to begin collecting on their own.
