Organize for Public Code
Practical tips and strategies for grassroots organizing. How to collect signatures, build support, and win.
Why Organize?
Ballot initiatives require real people.
Online signatures matter. But ballot initiatives require verified voter signatures collected on the ground. You are the missing piece. Every signature you collect gets us closer to the ballot.
The signature threshold varies by state:
- • California: 997,000 signatures (5% of registered voters)
- • Colorado: 124,000 signatures (5% of registered voters)
- • Oregon: 61,000 signatures (6% of registered voters)
- • Washington: 246,000 signatures (8% of registered voters)
Larger states require more signatures. But every state is winnable if we organize.
✓ You don't need to be an expert.
You don't need special training. You don't need political experience. You just need passion for public code and willingness to talk to people. We'll give you the tools.
Getting Started
Step 1: Find Your Team
You don't have to do this alone. Find fellow organizers in your area.
- • Ask friends who care about government transparency
- • Connect with local tech meetups and open source groups
- • Reach out to activist networks and community organizations
- • Post in local Facebook groups and Slack communities
- • Contact us at organize@publiccode.us to find existing organizers
Step 2: Learn Your State's Laws
Each state has different requirements. You need to know:
- • How many signatures you need
- • Time period to collect them
- • Rules about signature gatherers (some allow any volunteer, some require paid)
- • Forms and submission procedures
- • Whether petition gatherers need training
Step 3: Get Training
Once you know your state's rules, we'll help you:
- • Design your ballot measure language
- • Create a timeline and signature collection schedule
- • Set up petition collection logistics
- • Train volunteer signature gatherers
- • Plan your public engagement strategy
Collecting Signatures
Signature collection is the core of ballot initiative campaigns. Here are proven strategies:
Tabling Events
Set up a table at high-traffic locations:
- • Farmers markets
- • Street fairs and festivals
- • Coffee shops (with permission)
- • Community events
- • Transit stations
Door-to-Door
Knock on doors in your neighborhood:
- • Walk neighborhoods systematically
- • Introduce yourself and explain the campaign
- • Collect signatures on the spot
- • Get contact info for future updates
- • Ask them to talk to friends
Organization Partnerships
Partner with groups that already have engaged members:
- • Tech user groups and meetups
- • Open source communities
- • Government transparency organizations
- • Civil liberties groups
- • Environmental organizations
Online & Social
Amplify your reach with digital tools:
- • Share the online petition link widely
- • Post on social media daily
- • Create shareable graphics
- • Start local Facebook group
- • Send emails to your network
Pro Tips for Signature Collectors
- • Lead with passion, not facts. Tell your story first. Why do YOU care about public code?
- • Be prepared for questions. Have a 2-minute explanation ready. Practice it.
- • Make it easy to say yes. Have a pen ready. Have printed materials. Smile.
- • Verify registration. Check that signers are registered voters in your state.
- • Collect extra info. Get email addresses for follow-up (with permission).
- • Track progress. Keep detailed records of signatures, locations, dates.
- • Celebrate milestones. When you hit 10%, 25%, 50%, share it! Momentum matters.
Building Community Support
Signatures are necessary but not sufficient. You also need to build broad community support.
Host Community Events
Bring people together to learn and organize:
- • Host monthly meetups to discuss the campaign
- • Organize educational workshops about public code
- • Hold signature collection "parties"
- • Create a local organizing committee
- • Celebrate wins and milestones together
Recruit Volunteers
Different people can help in different ways:
Signature Collectors
Collect signatures at events
Social Media
Share and promote online
Event Organizers
Plan and coordinate activities
Media Relations
Talk to press, write articles
Media & Public Outreach
Tell Your Story
Media outlets need human stories, not just facts. Share:
- • Why you personally care about public code
- • Stories of wasted government money in your state
- • Examples of successful public code projects
- • Impact on your community or industry
Pitch Local Media
Contact journalists and pitch stories:
- • Local newspaper reporters
- • Local TV news stations
- • Podcast hosts and bloggers
- • Tech-focused media outlets
- • Government and policy reporters
Write Op-Eds & Letters to Editors
Directly reach newspaper readers:
- • Write op-ed articles for local papers
- • Submit letters to the editor
- • Respond to negative coverage
- • Celebrate campaign milestones in print
Social Media Strategy
- 📱 Post daily on Threads, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook
- 🎯 Use consistent hashtags: #PublicCodeUS #PublicMoneyPublicCode
- 🖼️ Share graphics, memes, and infographics
- 🎥 Create short videos explaining public code
- 💬 Respond to comments and engage with supporters
- 📊 Share campaign progress and statistics
Sample Toolkit
30-Second Pitch
"Hi, I'm organizing for public code in [STATE]. Your tax dollars fund government software that you can't see or use. We're collecting signatures to require government software to be public and transparent. Would you sign?"
Use this to start conversations at events.
Why It Matters (2 minutes)
If someone asks for more details, say:
"When the pandemic hit, states wasted billions building unemployment systems from scratch. California: $260M. Each state should have been able to use code from other states. Public code means government software is transparent, secure, and reusable. It saves taxpayer money. It improves government. And it lets citizens see how government actually works."
Sample Social Media Post
"Your tax dollars fund government software. But you can't see it 👀 Why? It's proprietary. Locked away by vendors. We're fighting for #PublicCode—publicly funded software that's publicly owned. Sign here: publiccode.us/sign #PublicMoneyPublicCode"
Door Knock Script
"Hi! I'm [NAME], a volunteer with Public Code [STATE]. I'm talking to neighbors about a ballot initiative we're working on. Have you heard about public code? (If no:) It's about making government software public and transparent. Can I tell you more? (Brief pitch above) Would you be willing to sign our petition?"
You've Got This
Ballot initiatives work because of people like you—everyday people who care about something bigger than themselves and are willing to knock on doors, have conversations, and build a movement.
You have everything you need. Now go organize.