Missouri Petition for Nader pages
Petitioning Talking Points
Print copies of this page to carry [File --->Print from browser]
Or download a copy MoInstrc.doc [MS Word 97 format - 27 kb]
These are issues you need to cover with everyone who signs a petition.
Remember: You should not be spending time trying to persuade people. (Give them something to read if they are interested.) You should be only gathering signatures. Try to spend a minute or less on every discussion. If someone is rude, be polite and back off—never be confrontational when gathering signatures.
1. As you approach the person, ask... ARE YOU A REGISTERED VOTER IN MISSOURI? [Those not from Missouri cannot sign. Those not registered to vote cannot sign; but if you have the material, you can register people.]
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SIGN TO GET RALPH NADER ON THE PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT IN MISSOURI? HE'S RUNNING WITH THE GREEN PARTY.
2. Ask everyone... WHAT COUNTY DO YOU LIVE IN? [It is absolutely essential: People must sign on a petition marked for the county they live in, and write their address where they are registered to vote (which should be the same). If they sign a petition for the wrong county, it will be invalidated. Those who live in the City of St. Louis must sign a different sheet than those living in St. Louis County. Also, St. Charles, Franklin and Jefferson Counties are separate.]
3. If a person shows interest in the Nader campaign, ASK IF S/HE WOULD LIKE TO COLLECT SIGNATURES AND GET THE PERSON'S PHONE NUMBER.
These are some other issues that sometimes come up:
- Many people say "I don't know my Congressional District" when they sign. When this happens TELL THEM TO LEAVE IT BLANK AND WE WILL FILL IT IN LATER.
- A person might ask "I already signed a petition to get another party on the ballot. Can I sign this too?" Tell the person, "YES. WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO SIGN OUR PETITION ALSO."
- A person might ask "Someone in my family really likes Nader. Can I sign for him/her?" Tell the person, "NO. PEOPLE HAVE TO SIGN FOR THEMSELVES."
- A person might say "But I want to vote for someone else" or "Does this mean I have to vote for Nader?" Tell the person, "NO. THIS IS JUST TO PUT HIM ON THE BALLOT SO WE HAVE A CHOICE."
Be extra careful that the first signer of each sheet completes the line correctly. Later signers tend to follow the example of the top signer, and if the top one is wrong, everyone else will probably follow suit and invalidate the whole page! [This has actually happened to us!]
You (i.e., the person who circulates the petition) must sign his/her name and address at the bottom of each petition page in the presence of a notary public, and have your signature notarized. A notary is generally available at the Gateway Green Center, 6101 Delmar Blvd. (at Rosedale), St. Louis, MO 63112, during the day on Saturdays, but any notary public will do.
Questions? Contact any of these folks:
Don Fitz 314 727-8554 fitzdon@aol.com Tim Barnhart 314 351-4268 tvbarnhart@cs.com Tom Palazzolo 314 622-0728 tom.palazzolo@husch.com
Gateway Green Center 314 721-3192 Send completed petitions to :
Robin Barrett, Chair
Green Party
P.O. Box 8094
St. Louis, MO 63156
20 May 00
Back to
Invitation: Missouri Petition for Nader page
To Gateway Greens homepage