Ted FolkmanOkay, #bospoli, is there some kind of rule of etiquette that says I ought to sign someone’s petition to get on the ballot if I’ve never heard of the candidate? Or even if I have heard of the candidate but don’t support him or her? I got balled out this afternoon at the Roche Bros. for declining to sign for someone I had never heard of. @universalhub
Jonathan Kamens 86 47@tedfolkman @universalhub Well, I think they just gave you a very good reason not to vote for that candidate, eh?
@tedfolkman @universalhub Seriously, you absolutely should not sign for a candidate you know you don't support, and if you don't know anything about the candidate, you should feel free to politely decline or ask the canvasser for more information about the candidate before signing.
Note that you're only allowed to sign for as many people as you will be allowed to vote for. So e.g. in a district city council race you need to live in the district and you can only sign for 1 candidate.
Note that you're only allowed to sign for as many people as you will be allowed to vote for. So e.g. in a district city council race you need to live in the district and you can only sign for 1 candidate.
@jik @universalhub good to know!
Ruben Rodrigues@tedfolkman @jik @universalhub There's no justification for being rude, and you shouldn't sign anything you don't want to, but in Mass. you can sign multiple candidates petitions. ( https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/download/getting-on-the-ballot/How-to-Run-for-Office.pdf ) I personally don't have qualms signing petitions for folks I don't know or wouldn't end up voting for under the idea that if you're organizing folks and putting yourself out there, that's to be rewarded... but I also wouldn't force that on anyone.
@rubenr @tedfolkman @universalhub Yes, for statewide office you can sign for multiple candidates. Not so for municipal elections. See the link in the thread to the relevant law.
@jik @tedfolkman @[email protected] didn't see a link, but you appear to be correct https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file/2021/02/2021%20GUIDE%20TO%20RUN%20FOR%20MUNICIPAL%20OFFICE%20.pdf. I will be more judicious with my signatures in the future! (Though I do like the more open State model, philosphically).
Aria Stewart
Brian Sniffen@jik wait what? I can only sign one petition to get someone on the presidential ballot?
@briansniffen We are talking about Boston local elections.
Also, I don't know what the rules are for presidential elections, but I'm pretty sure in most states presidential candidates don't get onto the ballot via petitions.
Also, I don't know what the rules are for presidential elections, but I'm pretty sure in most states presidential candidates don't get onto the ballot via petitions.
Matthew Nadler@matthewmuses @jik @universalhub it was a name I didn’t know. Someone from Dorchester running for council.
DrKaz@tedfolkman @matthewmuses @jik @universalhub
It was Shawn D. Nelson. He's an anti-vax right wing crazy. Feel free to google the name and see the history of his actions.
It was Shawn D. Nelson. He's an anti-vax right wing crazy. Feel free to google the name and see the history of his actions.
@DrKaz @matthewmuses @jik @universalhub Oh, interesting! Now that you write it, yes, Shawn Nelson was the name.
@tedfolkman @matthewmuses @jik @universalhub
Fortunately, nomination sheets are due at City Hall tomorrow at 5 PM, so they'll all go away soon (for now) but others to watch out for are Catherine Vitale and Padma Scott. They are all birds of a whackadoo feather and all trying to run for council positions this year.
@DrKaz @tedfolkman @jik @universalhub I googled them all. At least Padma seems to have avoided getting arrested.
creckling@tedfolkman I just say “I don’t live here”.
Sue Goganian@tedfolkman @universalhub No, and candidate won't go far w that attitude
Wraithe@tedfolkman @universalhub You definitely shouldn’t sign a petition for any cause/person you don’t know or agree with.
If you care enough, look up the candidate and contact their campaign about that person.
I’d wanna know and boot that person from canvassing for me, if I were a candidate.
ALSO, and I’m sure it’s rare, but someone could be posing as someone for that campaign to drive people off by being ass.
@tedfolkman @universalhub You ran into Shawn Nelson. He's an anti-vax right wing nutjob that has assaulted city officials and things. He runs with a group of anti-vaxxers that have hounded the mayor and other officials and tried to disrupt at her house or any public occasion they can access.
Ignore their idiocy. It's their only brand. You were right not to sign their form.