Petitioning season cut short

Political "petitioning season" for U.S. Congress, NYS Assembly, NYS Senate, and a host of other positions, was cut short. Like all the other things that were curtailed this past week, it was the right thing to do.

It was time to change my door knocking techniques

Saturday evening, when the news broke that I had until Tuesday to finish getting signatures, I had my work cut out for me. I had not started the ritual of going door to door to talk to my neighbors and get their signatures on the 8 petitions that were stacked neatly on my clipboard. I simply did not feel comfortable knocking on doors given the growing concerns around COVID-19. 

As a ward leader (or cat herder), for the County Dems, I felt a responsibility to get some signatures. I knew that I would only be able to do it if I could figure out a plan that included clean hands, uncontaminated pens, and strict social distancing -- essentially following the information on the Albany County Department of Health website. 

I wanted to make an effort to not exacerbate infections. My objective was to flatten the curve. 

Flatten the curve image from https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-flatten-the-curve.html

I  got signatures without knocking on a single door, while always maintaining 6 feet distance from my neighbors

An idea came to me that synthesized the news I had been absorbing - and specifically pulled from this On the Media interview with Laurie Garrett. I slept on it. I woke up in the morning and developed the below which I sent to a bunch of neighbors on my email list letting them know that if they had a more safe plan to follow, I would gladly use their plan instead:

My draft SAFE PETITIONING PLAN - Sunday, March 15 - 4:59 pm Tuesday March 17

1. We agree in advance via email, phone or text that you will sign petitions for Democrats, including any specifications you may have about candidates whose petitions that you do not want to sign. We agree upon a timeframe (15 minutes - 1/2 hour time range) that works for us so that I can get your signatures. 

2. I will be wearing vinyl gloves. I will be sure to clean my gloves between visits to people. That is, I will wash my gloves or I will use sanitizer on my gloves between visits.

3. I will put the clipboard of petitions at your front door, then I will step back a minimum of 6 feet (in most cases, I will return to the sidewalk) NOTE: if you live in a building with multiple apartments, I will not enter the building. I will leave the petition at the door that is the entrance to the building -- I could arrange to enter a building if that is your preference, but I will still stay 6 feet away from your apartment door. 

4. I will text or call (whichever you prefer) after I have stepped back a minimum of 6 feet from your front door.

5.  You will come to the door wearing clean gloves, and holding your own black pen (if you don't have black -- you can use blue) and you will review the Name(s) of Candidate(s) and positions they are seeking. 

6. You will sign the petitions with your gloves on (you do not need to print your name) for the candidates for whom you are comfortable signing. I will watch you so that I witness your signature. 

7. You will ONLY SIGN each page that you are comfortable signing. DO NOT spend time writing the date, your address or your Town/City.The only legal requirement is that I witness your signature. I will complete the Date, Address and Town/City information.

8. I will answer any questions you have. 

9. When you are finished only signing, you will put the clipboard down and close your door. After the door is closed I will come and pick up the clipboard. 

Clipboard left by neighbors after they signed petitions

The takeaway: 

It was so good to see my neighbors! Yes, it was from a distance of more than 6 feet. Yes, it was chilly outside. Yes, it was odd not to ring their doorbells and stand at the door like I usually do.  Yes, it was brief. But it was so good to just see them. In real life. It reminded me how much we are social beings. 

I wound up getting 14 signatures between Sunday and Tuesday using the plan. Some members of our awesome 10th Ward Democratic Committee also got signatures -- and understandably, many did not due to COVID-19 concerns. 

We are facing very challenging times.  Let's work together, flatten the curve and grow our strength. We can do it. One day at a time.