Petitions Nuts & Bolts Stephanie Singer City Commissioner Civics on the Ground Petitions Nuts & Bolts Stephanie Singer City Commissioner City Hall, Rm 132 215-686-3460 stephanie.singer@phila.gov www.PhiladelphiaVotes.com

Disclaimers I am not a lawyer, and this presentation does not give legal advice This presentation reflects my own opinions and has not been endorsed by the Office of the City Commissioners Thanks to Adam Bonin, Esq., for letting me use some of his power point slides! Email: adam@boninlaw.com Phone: 215.864.8002

Planning Time of year: February 18 – March 11 (for 2014 only) Time of day: respect eating, sleeping & worship times Circulators: usually must be registered voters in the candidate’s district and party. Candidate can circulate! Money: petitions must be notarized by circulator and candidate, which can cost up to $5/notarization

Signature and Fees Nomination Petitions US Congress – 1,000 sigs, $150 fee State Rep – 300 sigs, $100 fee State Senator – 500 sigs, $100 fee State Committeeperson (D or R) – 100 sigs, $25 fee Ward Party Committeeperson (D or R) – 10 sigs, no fee

Before you circulate 1. Fill in all blank spaces at the top before circulating. Copy it for all other petition pages. 2. Clearly type or print the name of the candidate exactly as it will appear on the ballot. 3. The person circulating the petition must be of the same party as those signing the petitions.

Circulators Each circulator of a petition must live and be registered to vote in the district, and registered in the same party as the candidate. Looser rules for nominating papers, but don’t be the test case to extend the precedent. Must be present for each signer. Cannot hand it off to others.

Get Ready: What to Bring Petitions Clipboard Pens (several) (Optional) Voter Registration Forms (Optional) Leave-Behind Literature (Optional) Street List

Optional: Leave-Behind Literature 5. Photo 1.Name Susie Jones For Committeeperson (Whig Party) 2. Office Familiar (has lived here for 40 years) Accessible (215-111-1111, susie@gmail.com) Energetic (organized park clean-up) VOTE MAY 20 3.Why vote for her? 4. Election Date

Street List (list of voters) Web & smartphone street lists available from vendors CD or paper street lists available from Dept of State and County Board of Election

Get Set: What to Wear Walking & standing shoes Respectful clothes Attention-getter

Go! Body Language Opening Line Politeness Listen! Engage! This is a great campaign opportunity!

Signers (Voters) Each signer of a petition must be registered in the party named in the petition. Each signer may sign one petition for as many candidates as are to be elected in the primary. (For Ward Committeeperson, two petitions.) Each signer should sign his/her name as it appears on his/her registration card, or on the street list. Signer should insert name, address, date. Blue or black pen only

Common Mistakes Incomplete or incorrect address Person not registered, or in wrong party or district Suspicious signatures Same handwriting, nicknames, duplicates, illegible. Spouses can’t sign for each other or for their kids. Nickname issues. (Liberalized, but …) Ditto marks. Date issues Must be consecutive on the page Should be complete. (recently liberalized) Same hand as the rest of the line.

Straight-Up Forgery

There are no filing fees for Ward Committeeperson. Affidavits There are no filing fees for Ward Committeeperson. Affidavit of Qualified Elector: Circulator must sign Candidate’s Affidavit: Candidate must sign Both signatures must be notarized. Each notarization must include the notary’s official rubber stamp seal. Questions? Ask Commissioner or Phila Board of Election After notary no more signatures can be acquired

Petitions Nuts & Bolts Stephanie Singer City Commissioner Civics on the Ground Petitions Nuts & Bolts Stephanie Singer City Commissioner City Hall, Rm 132 215-686-3460 stephanie.singer@phila.gov PhiladelphiaVotes.com Patransparency.org