Right now, collecting signatures is the most important job for our campaign. We must collect 74,574 valid signatures by November 22, 2023 to proceed to the next step of the initiative process.
Step One — Sign Up to Volunteer
Make sure you have signed up to volunteer to collect signatures. This will keep our efforts organized as we scale up across Massachusetts. Thank you!
Step Two — Get the Petitions and a Clipboard
Once you are signed up to volunteer, our Organizing Director (Art Gordon) or one of our other organizers will call or message you to connect you with signature-gathering efforts in your community, or to make a plan to get petition papers and a clipboard to you.
Alternatively, you may print out your own petitions, provided you follow these exact instructions:
- Use 8.5 x 11 white paper.
- Print doubled-sided using this .pdf file.
- The petitions must look exactly like those produced by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Step Three — Collect Signatures
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Chose a location.
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You can collect signatures with us on municipal Election Day, Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
- Please note — Massachusetts state law and regulations prohibit gathering signatures on initiative petitions within one hundred fifty (150) feet of a polling place on Election Day, i.e. the "150-foot Rule" M. G. L. c. 54, § 65.
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You can collect signatures in public places or at community events.
- Simply saying: "Hi friend, we're collecting signatures to put rent control on the ballot; we need Massachusetts voters to sign" works very well.
- Here's guidance on gathering signatures in shopping centers and public places.
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You can attend one of our signature gathering events.
- Or create your own event and we'll help promote it.
- www.rentcontrol2024.com/events
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You can carry the petitions with you as you go about your day and collect signatures a few at a time.
- 20 x week for 5 weeks = 100 signatures.
- Talk to a volunteer coordinator if you have questions or need help getting started.
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You can collect signatures with us on municipal Election Day, Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
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Start each petition by designating its city or town.
- Write the city or town in the box at the bottom of the petition on both the front and the back sides.
- Each petition may be used to collect signatures from only one city or town. If you are collecting signatures in a location where there are people from several different municipalities, use a different petition for each additional city or town.
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Signature — it must be a "legible signature" signed substantially as registered.
- If the registrars can determine the identity of the voter from the form of the signature, the name shall be considered "signed substantially as registered."
- A voter may insert or omit a middle name or initial and still have the signature deemed valid.
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Address — the voter prints the address where they are currently registered.
- There is no need to print the city/town or zip code in the Address box (the city or town is already designated at the bottom of both sides of the petition).
- All Massachusetts voters are eligible to sign. Just make sure they sign a petition designated for the city or town where they are currently registered.
- There is no need to enter anything in the Ward or Precinct boxes. Those boxes are for local election officials.
- Persons who are prevented from signing by physical disability may authorize another individual to sign for them in their presence.
- If a voter signs incorrectly or makes an error, do not erase or make changes. Do not cross anything out. Leave the incorrect line intact and ask the voter to sign their name and print their address again on the next line.
- Avoid any stray markings on the petition. It's okay to skip a line, and it's also okay to "retire" the petition you're working on and and start with a clean sheet even if the one you're working on is only partially filled up.
- Checklist for gathering signatures produced by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Step Four — Return Your Petition Papers
- Check in with Art Gordon or your local volunteer coordinator to let them know when you're ready to return your petition sheets.
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