11/6/99, updated 7/4/00 Instructions for Greens Petition Circulators PLEASE PLEASE READ THIS so you don't waste your valuable efforts on invalid signatures. PETITIONS MUST BE ON LEGAL SIZE (8.5 X 14") PAPER!!!! If you allowed the acrobat software to shrink-fit and print on 8.5 x 11" paper, do NOT use it. It is worthless. Recycle it. 1) All signatures that we turn in must be collected within a 6 month (180 day) time window. Since the final deadline for the Nov 2000 elections is mid-July, our 180 days will begin about Jan 15, 2000. NOTE: To succeed we need regular communication with petitioners so we can let everyone know where we stand so we all can adjust our efforts as needed. 2) Materials you MAY want: * Clipboard - legal size (some people use 2 at once in a crowd) * Pen (black ink is preferable for copying). I attach a pen to the clipboard with string to be sure people don't walk off with it. * Hat or armband or something to make yourself stand out and be identifiable as a Green. I use a cowboy hat with a Greens bumper sticker taped to the front of it. * You are WELCOME to make more copies of blank petitions as needed! Always keep at least one totally blank one around to make more copies from - for yourself or to give to friends (WITH instructions). 3) You, the circulator, must be registered to vote in Michigan. [although the US Supreme Court has ruled that requirement to be unconstitutional] 4) Before starting to circulate petitions, Please Read One. There are important legal notices in Bold type on each petition. 5) At the top of each petition, you MUST fill in the name of the COUNTY in which all signers are registered who sign that petition sheet. 6) You can fill in the first line of your petition with your own name, etc. as an example for others to follow. 7) Use the Script below, or your own wording as appropriate, when requesting signatures. Do not waste your valuable time arguing with people when you could be getting more signatures from other people. 8) When getting each signature, be sure to have the person sign on a sheet for the COUNTY in which they are registered to vote. If you don't have a sheet you can use for that county, then do not let them sign. For every line, and especially the first line of a blank petition, WATCH and HELP with every block that the person is filling in. Unfortunately, the legal wording of the column titles makes it sound more complicated than needed. If one person puts something incorrect on one line, you'll have a hard time getting everyone else not to do the same thing. 9) Signers must fill in every block and print all information legibly - this is a legal document, and names/addresses may be checked by the State Board of Canvassers against official voter registration data. City/Township names must be spelled out fully (eg., Ann Arbor, not AA). If the signer is unsure of whether to mark the "City of" or "Twp of" box, THEN DON'T MARK EITHER ONE!! Just write in the name and leave both boxes unchecked. An incorrectly checked box invalidates the signature, but UNCHECKED WORKS FINE. This is a new relaxation of the rules. "Street Address" = JUST the street address. No city, no zip. And it can NOT be a PO Box. You can use normal abbreviations like Rd. St. "Post Office" = PLEASE JUST PUT ZIP CODE HERE (5 digit is fine) (for the address at which the person is registered to vote). Other things like the name of the city work, but it is MUCH EASIER AND SAFER if they just use the zip code. If someone screws up anything on the line they are filling in, cross out the entire line, and have them properly fill in another line. 10) If anyone shows interest in helping, PLEASE give them copies of a blank petition and instructions, or have them call the Greens office for help. This will be the most important part of us actually succeeding, so don't be shy about asking for help. 11) Do NOT sign/date the the circulator's block of a petition until you are ready to turn in that petition (full or not). If you get any signatures on that sheet after that date, they are invalid. 12) At the end of EACH month please return any petitions you have with at least 5 signatures to the following address or to a Green petition coordinator who can get them to this address. Green Party of Michigan 548 South Main Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Do NOT send petitions to Lansing (Sec of State). We need to trim all petitions down to 8 1/2" x 13", copy them (in case of accident or legal challenge), and take them ALL together in one batch to Lansing. 9) The Greens are pledging to keep all petition info (names/addresses) confidential -- i.e., we will not sell or give out this info for any purpose. Please respect this! If they also want to be on our mailing list, you can note that down on some other paper, or just give them a flier and let them contact us later. Signing the petition will NOT get them onto any mailing list. Questions/Problems: Call 734-663-3555 (The Green Line) or 734-971-8576 (Craig Harvey's home number) email: harvey@ic.net web: http://migreens.org ================================================================== "SCRIPT" PLEASE: be polite and friendly. Being Green is about democracy, building understanding, and respect for diversity. It is NOT about getting pissed off at anyone because they don't agree with you. Some suggested wordings for canvassing (mix/match/modify as you like): 0) "Hi!" (Yes, it's a good idea to get a PERSON's attention first.) 1) "Are you a Michigan voter?" (if not, don't let them sign) 2a) "Are you sick of the the lack of choices on the ballot and in presidential debates?" 2b) "Would you like to help get another party on the ballot?" 2c) "Would you be willing to help get the Green Party on the ballot?" 2d) "Would you sign a petition to help get a Green candidate on the ballot this year?" ... so we have more choices to vote for ... so we can vote for something besides the Republicrats 3) When done, please remember to say "Thank you." If you know you're dealing with pro-green people (like in Ann Arbor), then (c) works well, otherwise I'd suggest starting with something like (a) or (b). Then if that doesn't take, let them go or try something of your own that's better for your area. Signing doesn't commit anyone to vote Green, it just means they think we deserve to be on the ballot. Be ready to say the "four pillars" of the Greens platform: *Ecology, *Grassroots Democracy (plus maybe: "instead of corporate-funded pseudo- democracy" or "instead of government controlled by big corporations") *Social Justice *Non-Violence Be ready to answer the question about taking votes away from Democrats - a) Green ideals such as a healthy sustainable environment and an economic system that can sustain the well-being of all citizens, not just make the wealthiest even wealthier, should draw from both Republicans & Democrats who are sick of losing control of their own government to global corporate powers interested only in short-term takings from publicly-owned assets (our land, water, and air). b) Just like happened in Minnesota with the Reform Party, a Green Party choice on the ballot will pull people out to vote who otherwise wouldn't bother voting for anyone. c) Voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for an evil. Of course, as Ralph Nader has said, "How can you spoil a system when it's already rotten to the core." d) And to paraphrase Nader's words from '96 (using 'Democrats' instead of 'Clinton')... Whether Democrats lose or gain votes because of the Green Party is very substantially up to them. The more they adopt a broad pro-democracy agenda, putting the tools of democratic power in the hands of voters, taxpayers, workers, consumers, and shareholders, the more votes they are going to get. THANK YOU !!!