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Petitioning Tips By ILGP Master Petitioner
Charlie Howe, of Southern Illinois, gives all ILGPers tips for great petitioning.
Dear Fellow Petitioners:
I was asked last night during the CC call to post some suggestive 1-liners, ideas to use when conversing with potential petition signers. So, here goes.
1. Know your audience, gauge your signer. Arguments should vary according to the person, as young mothers will have different concerns than, say, single college-aged males. If I am forced to choose between approaching young people & older folks, I choose the young crowd. The gray matter in the older folks has generally solidified against us, whereas the younger folks not only have more of a stake in the future, but also will likely have heard about us. If push comes to shove, & there are only older folks, then the issue is healthcare, OK?
2. Sooo, after the initial 1st question to separate the wheat from the chafe, viz.,"Are you an Illinois voter?," I may ask, "How about helping the Greens/Green Party get on the Illinois ballot?" Then, leave the question hanging. Silence is a killer for forcing folks to act, do something...like sign your petition.
3. "Sir/Ma'am! Wouldn't you agree we need a 3rd party choice on the Illinois ballot other than what the 2 main parties are offering?"
4. "Excuse me, young lady. [Appeal to sympathy/unfairness.] The Green Party needs 25,000 signatures to get on the Illinois ballot. That's outrageous, don't you think? How about helping us out?"
5. "Sir, wouldn't you agree that the political system needs some different choices than what we have for governor, Att'y General, Sec'y of State & all that? How about putting a 3rd party--the Greens--on the ballot?"
6. "Young man. I'm trying to get the Green Party on the Illinois ballot. You believe in democracy, don't you? How about giving us a signature? No commitment. It'll simply give Illinois voters a 3rd choice in November...and you vote for whomever you want in that voting booth."
7. "Howdy, ma'am. My name's Charlie Howe, & I'm with the Green Party. I'm trying to get a 3rd party on the Illinois ballot so we can fight for more money for education, keeping our national forest & wilderness areas intact. How about it? We could use your signature."
8. "You look like a farmer, sir. Are you?" {"Matter o' fact, I am, son.} "Well, sir. I'm with the Green Party & we stand for a lot of good things [mention 4 main pillars], like we'd like to preserve our state's farms & wilderness areas. Only way we're going to do that is by changing the tax structure to encourage such. You can help by getting us on the Illinois ballot, get things rolling in that direction. What do you say?"
9. "Good afternoon, folks. What do you think of the healthcare system & the way it works in Illinois? ... I agree with you absolutely; we're shortchanging our seniors bigtime. We must do more. And our party, the Green Party, is committed to universal healthcare. How about helping us get on the Illinois ballot with your signature?"
10. Wherever you go, to the market, to the laundry, wherever, carry your clipboard & extra petitions. You'd be surprised at how many times you see folks standing around, waiting for something, to kill time, & by a simple, "Excuse me, could I bother you a minute" segues into a signed petition sheet.
11. If you can find out the person's 1st name right off the bat, use it during the conversation, it helps break the ice, make things more positive, increases your chances for a signature, OK?
11. If you can find out the person's 1st name right off the bat, use it during the conversation, it helps break the ice, make things more positive, increases your chances for a signature, OK?
Could somebody please post these ideas to
the ILGP.org website?
Thanks,
Charlie
