Circulating the Petition

Petitions containing the name of not less than 5% of resident taxpayers must be presented to the city council or county commissioners. Get as many signatures as possible to avoid problems if some names are disqualified. More names also show support for the mill levy.

Petition carriers should be active supporters for the library. If possible ask for help from people who are property owners, have good standing in the community, and understand the issues. Hold a meeting where both the library issues and the petition process are explained to petition carriers.

Provide good written and oral instructions for petition carriers. Give the carriers these instructions to assure that the petitions will be correct and legal. Use the petition process as a public relations tool for the library.

Here are some tips and instructions for petition carriers:

Petition signers must be registered voters within the area that will be voting on the mill levy. If the signer isn't sure whether or not s/he is a registered voter, recommend s/he not sign the petition until s/he verifies his/her residency and voter registration.

Signers must include their entire address, city and zip code and length of residence.

Telephone numbers are optional. Carriers should explain this to signers and let signers know that the telephone numbers will only be used to remind the signer of the hearing and to vote at the election.

Petition carriers should sign their own petition on one of the signer's lines as well as making the notarized signature at the bottom of the petition.

Petition carriers should not allow a spouse to sign for the other spouse.

Petition carriers must sign the bottom of the petition in the presence of a notary public and they must have their signature notarized. This is extremely important, as all names will be invalidated if the petition is not notarized.

Have petition carriers turn in the petition to someone on the election committee or task force rather than the county clerk. The petitions can then be checked for flaws, etc. before they are officially turned in.