Petition Circulating Tips
HOW TO PETITION IN A CROWD
Whether you’re on a busy street corner, in front of a bank, or lost in the crowd of your local farmers market or festival, all you need is a clipboard, pen, and some basic information about the issue. And don’t forget to ask your friends and family to sign your petition!
Petitioning is easy. It requires little set-up, and you can do it almost anywhere (though it’s best to stay on public property).
1. Start with a friendly greeting and eye contact – that’s the only way someone walking by will stop.
2. Go straight to your pitch – “Hi! Would you like to sign a petition to reduce the size of Toledo City Council?” Experiment and find what works best for you. Tell them more about it if they ask.
Other good lines to use when asking for signatures:
"Excuse me please, are you registered to vote in Toledo?"
3. Hand over the clipboard – giving the clipboard to the potential activist empowers them to take action. If you can get the board or pen into his hands, chances improve. When the crowd is responsive, you can get one per minute. Two clipboards -- no waiting, but watch both signers. You are after all, a witness.
4. Bring extra pens and clipboards so that when you’re talking to groups of people, you can have many people sign at once.
5. Use the 20-second rule: if you can't get them to sign in 20 seconds, say "Thanks, have a nice day" and target the next person -- just go for the maximum number of signatures! If they seem reluctant, tell them that signing the petition doesn't mean you have to vote for the proposal -- it just gives the voters a chance to vote on it.
6. When a petition has all lines signed by voters, the petition must be notarized. Do not sign the circulator statement unless witnessed by a Notary Public.
To volunteer, contact Dave Schulz at dspoint@aol.com or call 419-277-7167. COBRA will provide all materials necessary for successful petitioning.