signature gathering
Amassing written support
Signature gathering is the process of collecting signatures from voters, typically to qualify a ballot initiative, referendum, or candidate for an election.
Paid or volunteer circulators approach people in public spaces with petitions: The campaign hired workers for signature gathering outside grocery stores.
The practice is central to direct democracy in states that allow citizens to place measures on the ballot.
- clipboardRigid paper-holding surface
- ballot measureVoting item for approval
- petitionFormal written appeal
- petition driveOrganized effort collecting signatures
- canvassingSystematic direct voter outreach
election law · affidavit · notary public · referendum · outreach · initiative · community organizing · coalition building · certification · grassroots movement · jurisdiction · advocacy · voter mobilization · public demonstration · civic duty · compliance · public relations · social networks
- activismboycotts, activists, activist, advocate, demonstrating
- protestdemonstration, walkout, picket, protest march, sit-in
- canvassingcanvassers, knock, door knocking, door-to-door, canvass
- civic engagementcivic engagement, citizen participation, civic participation, civic responsibility, civic activism
- grassroots organizingcanvassing, door knocking, phone banking, voter registration, petitions
- recall electionsrecall election, recall petition, recall vote, recall campaign, removal from office
signature gatheringvoting
Formally registering a choice
going to the polls · ballot casting · judicial ruling · executive order
signature gatheringnon-participation
Choosing to stay uninvolved
voter suppression · political apathy · abstention · boycotting
signature, gathering, signal, signify, significant, significance, signification, signatory, signet