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• <br />• <br />• <br />Checklist for a Successful Referendum <br />(nothing guarantees success, but these will help) <br />1. Develop a vision of your communities preferred future. These are those <br />"brainstorming" or "daydreaming" sessions with some detail. Having general <br />acceptance. Ideally staff, user groups, and the general public have been <br />involved in the process. <br />2. Community involvement (soon to be support). Enlist the involvement of others <br />early on (but not before you have some shape to your vision). Request input <br />before you ask for either support or money. <br />3. Task force. As the "champions" of your community become identified, get <br />them on a committee. The more influential, the better! <br />4. Determine what items you are going to ask for (content). It's based primarily <br />on two criteria; need and popularity. <br />Whether we want to admit it or not, a referendum is a popularity poll. The <br />public must perceive a need with a particular project. It needs to coincide <br />closely (but not necessarily identically) with their priority list. <br />Note: Quality (but not luxury) tends to sell. <br />Urgency is required. The need, impact, and benefit should be <br />immediate. <br />5. Timing. Have plenty, but not too much! Referendums require months (even <br />years) of "quiet" organization. The actual Public Awareness Campaign should <br />not exceed 5 weeks in duration, subject to the complexity of the question and <br />community. <br />Select a time (date) that is most favorable to your supporters. <br />Go it alone if at all possible, no other elections or issues. <br />6. Beat the Bunch That's Against Everything, by being cordial and careful with <br />them (don't infuriate them!). Also, don't waste any time trying to convert <br />them! Basically forget about them and concentrate on finding people who <br />support the issue. <br />