You asked: Is petitioning allowed on TriMet?

With elections coming up and ballot deadlines approaching, you may have been stopped by folks collecting signatures during your commute. We’ve been asked more often lately: Are people allowed to gather signatures on board or at the station?

The answer, generally, is yes. Canvassing and petitioning are constitutionally protected activities under the First Amendment, and are therefore legally permitted on TriMet property. Of course, this doesn’t give anyone license to act disruptively or dangerously — if you ever feel unsafe, let your operator know or call the police.

And if you’re feeling like this election season can’t end soon enough, think of petitioners on transit like that one friend’s political posts in your Facebook feed. (If you can’t relate, you are that friend — it’s OK.) Just like it’s best if you scroll right past those, feel free to pass on a petition you don’t feel like signing in real life.