The Importance of the Petition
Arizona for Abortion Access Act’s petition campaign is doing exactly that to preserve abortion access by amending the Arizona Constitution. The initiative requires 383,923 valid signatures by July 3, for the amendment to be on the November ballot. On April 2 organizers announced they had reached 506,892 signatures three months ahead of their deadline. However, the organization’s leaders said they will continue to collect signatures up until the third.
Arizona has 15 counties; registered voters must sign the petition labeled with the county they are registered in. To circulate the petition canvassers must be a registered voter themselves. While there are no restrictions on where they are registered it is much easier if they are registered in the state the campaign is in.
When signing the petition individuals must sign in person and in front of a petitioner. All of the information must be filled out appropriately and legibly within the designated boxes.
American democracy relies on the engagement of the people. Petitioning has historically been a powerful and imperative tool used by the people to work within the democratic system. While it may be an underestimated element of the democratic process, it is one of the ways citizens can directly make changes and ensure they are instilled and executed.
Democracy comes alive in the 15 blank rows of a petition sheet. Pages get printed and prepared for eager canvassers to hit the pavement and collect signatures for the petition to be on the next ballot.
Julie Karcis and Beth Ballmann (left to right) notarized completed petition sheets at a signature gathering event in Tempe.
2/2/2024
A Triple-A volunteer canvasser asks for signatures on the Valley Metro in Downtown Phoenix.
2/2/2024
By: Cheyla Daverman
“That's also really important because if the county recorder can't read the address or their printed name, they can't test it against the signature to see if it’s valid.” Beth Ballmann, Arizona Indivisible co-captain for the Arizona Abortion Access petition said.
Once the signature sheet is full it must be officially notarized. Part of the notarizing process has the canvasser sign the back of the filled petition pages to assert the authenticity of the signatures.
If a canvasser wants to sign in support of the initiative it can not be on the sheet they are circulating. Sheets also must be notarized by someone other than the individual circulating that petition. After it has been signed and notarized the petitions are off to the county recorder to be validated.
A blank petition sheet sits waiting for signatures. A guide is placed across the row to help identify the information needed per box, while also helping prevent writing from going into other rows and columns. 2/2/2024
On the back of the petition sheet highlighted sections detail what information should be signed by the circulator or the notary.
2/2/2024.
A common misconception about signing a petition sheet is that you are giving your vote to that cause. While it is true that most individuals who sign the sheet will also vote for the initiative, this signature simply aids in actually getting the measure as an option on the ballot. If an initiative is successful, registered voters can make their selection on the ballot in the future.
Phoenix residents have said that being approached and asked for a signature can be annoying and sometimes uncomfortable. Triple-A leaders invite residents to consider that by signing a petition you are helping those who are passionately calling for a change to be heard and helping the American democracy function as it was intended.
“People think if they are signing the petition they are automatically supporting or voting for the petition,” Katherine Yelle, a former Arizona Indivisible petition trainer said. “But no, it’s just to get it on the ballot. It’s not a vote.”