Unethical Practices & Exploitation During Petition Season
As we step into the bustling season of petitions and community initiatives, it’s important to shed light on an issue that often lurks in the shadows: the unethical practice of commission-only pay for petition gatherers.
This has been an issue local to the California Bay Area, as a development company is working to get signatures to get their project proposal on the ballot. When asked where they were from, one of the signature gatherers stated they were from Miami Florida. This is not surprising, as there are many companies that can be contracted to put bodies out in front of stores to gather signatures. These individuals are exploited out of desperation to make money, flown around the country, and are subject to being left in the dust if not performing well, or put into debt for “travel expenses,” which will lead to desperate measures to get signatures. This may result in lying to get signatures or being aggressive.
This issue of commission-only pay for petition gatherers is reminiscent of other industries where workers are similarly exploited. Think of the door-to-door magazine salespeople or the young individuals selling candy on street corners. These commission-only jobs with no base pay have often been the subject of investigations into labor violations. The similarities extend even further, drawing parallels to the darker side of labor trafficking. Just as vulnerable individuals are lured with promises of quick cash and sent far from home, the plight of these petition gatherers echoes the troubling realities of labor trafficking. It is a form of exploitation that preys on desperation and leaves workers in precarious situations, akin to modern-day indentured servitude.
The most recent states to ban paying circulators on a per-signature basis were Arkansas and Utah in 2021. Nine states — Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming — banned paying signature gatherers based on the number of signatures collected. In June 2023, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the state’s ban on paying circulators based on the number of signatures collected is constitutional after the case was appealed by Petition Partners, the state’s largest signature-gathering firm. In 2020, then-Attorney General Mark Brnovich, a Republican, slapped the company with 50 misdemeanor criminal counts for its bonus programs that paid people for signatures collected for Proposition 208, a tax on incomes over $250,000.
Not every clipboard-wielding petitioner falls under this exploitative system. Many of us have dedicated hours to gathering signatures for local causes, especially during times of recalls or when critical community issues are at stake. These volunteers, our neighbors and friends, do so out of genuine passion and commitment to the betterment of our community.
However, it’s when we encounter petitioners who are not from our state or local area that we should pause and take note. This raises concerns about the underlying labor practices that often accompany commission-only pay structures, and there are red flags that we should be mindful of when encountering certain petitioners.
So, what are the signs to watch out for? When engaging with petitioners, ask them where they are from. It might seem like a simple question, but the answers — or lack thereof — can reveal a lot. Many out-of-state petitioners may not be able to provide a clear answer or may seem unfamiliar with the area they are working in. This lack of local knowledge is a telltale sign that they are not part of our community.
Now, I want to make it clear that our local volunteers are the backbone of positive change in our neighborhoods. They are the familiar faces at the farmer’s market, the friends who care deeply about local initiatives, and the voices of our community. They volunteer their time out of love for our causes, and we are grateful for their dedication.
So, what can we do? If you come across petitioners who raise these concerns, I urge you to take action. Report these situations to the labor board. But also consider an initiative to ban the practice in California. By shining a light on these unethical practices, we can work towards creating a fairer and more just system for all and know that the issue on the ballot was not gained unfairly or on the back of exploited labor.
If you signed a petition and want to withdraw your signature, you can contact your county office voter registrar to fill out a form. Search “ ___ county petition signature withdrawal”
As petition season unfolds, let’s continue to support our local volunteers and causes with enthusiasm. But let’s also remain vigilant against exploitation. Together, we can ensure that this season of community empowerment truly reflects the values of fairness and dignity for all.
Until next time.
