# Instructions for Petitioning

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<mark style="color:green;">You are encouraged to try various ways of asking people to sign and find out what works best for</mark> <mark style="color:green;">you.</mark> That said, you can start with these recommendations.

When asking people to sign the petition, previous experiences have shown that keeping the request as short and straightforward as possible is best. <mark style="color:green;">**“Hi there, could you sign our petition**</mark> <mark style="color:green;">**to**</mark> <mark style="color:green;">**help animals?”**</mark> or <mark style="color:green;">**“Are you a \[City / county] registered voter? We're getting signatures on an initiative to help animals!"**</mark>

It is best to keep it short because when someone sees you, they don’t know what you are doing or what you are asking for. They might think you are asking for money or asking them to talk about something that will take a significant amount of time. By letting them know you're just asking for a quick signature, they will understand that you are not asking for much.&#x20;

Some people will sign without further discussion, and others will want to know more about the legislation, providing an opportunity to explain the proposed legislation in greater detail. The full legislation text is available at the front of every packet, and a short, one-sentence summary of the policy is provided on every page (ballot title). It is best to keep the explanation brief for efficiency.&#x20;

Read the next two sections for more tips about communicating with the public. Also, read the "About the Campaigns" section for some good talking points.&#x20;

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