1. Petitions Nuts & Bolts Stephanie Singer City Commissioner
Civics on the Ground
Petitions Nuts & Bolts
Stephanie Singer
City Commissioner
City Hall, Rm

2. 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! Phone:

3. 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

4. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

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

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

10. 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

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

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

13. 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

14. 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.

15. Straight-Up Forgery

16. 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

19. Petitions Nuts & Bolts Stephanie Singer City Commissioner
Civics on the Ground
Petitions Nuts & Bolts
Stephanie Singer
City Commissioner
City Hall, Rm PhiladelphiaVotes.com
Patransparency.org