Grassroots organizing is a critical tool in educating the public and building support around medical aid-in-dying and end-of-life issues. As we’ve seen with many issues in national politics, grassroots momentum in support of, or in opposition to, a law or policy can be extremely powerful. In the case of medical aid-in-dying specifically, grassroots efforts put a face and a voice to an issue that many may know little about.
Petitions, Tabling and Canvassing
The simplest of political acts, signing a petition, remains among the most important currencies in public policy. Petitions, like letters, are monitored and tracked by public officials and legislative staff, and tallies are kept on the numbers of supporters on all sides of an issue. Strong community support, demonstrated through a large number of petition signatures, can encourage politicians to support an issue or policy.
