How to Write a Petition - Effective Petition Writing
Writing a petition is not as difficult as you might think. Many campaigners have reported success stories with GoPetition after
using our simple platform. For the best campaign results you need to
take into account a number of issues: identifying your target, proper
research, clear communication and how you will promote your petition.
Identifying your target
The
first task of effective petition writing is to properly identify your
target. At GoPetition we have many examples of petitions written to a
variety of campaign targets. The list below illustrates some popular
targets:
- Governments, parliaments, politicians: local, state, federal, national, EU, UN;
- Politcal parties, presidents, prime ministers, senators, ambassadors, campaigners;
- Educational institutions;
- Sports organizations;
- Media organizations;
- Entertainment producers - TV stations, Film and TV producers, studios;
- Neighborhood authorities or home owner associations;
- There are many more examples that can be searched at GoPetition.
Example targets: governments and parliaments
GoPetition hosts many petitions written
to governments and parliaments. Many jurisdictions throughout the world
now recognize internet petitions. For example, 10 Downing Street, UK, accepts electronic petitions as long as each petition complies with basic content requirements. In the USA, statutory requirements vary federally and from state to state.
In Scotland, e-Petitioner (a parliamentary service) has introduced internet petition formats and protocols. Similarly, in Queensland, Australia,
internet petitions to parliament have been sanctioned if a Member of
Parliament sponsors the relevant e-petition. Please note that petitions
addressed to the European Parliament require signers to indicate
nationality and job.
The increasing acceptance of internet petitions by governments and
parliaments worldwide makes GoPetition an ideal partner for your
campaign. Our services can be used for any petition addressed to
government at a local, county, state or national level or even
internationally (for example, the UN). GoPetition has many examples
of well written petitions to a variety of local, state and national
governments and parliaments and also to the United Nations (UN).
The status of e-signatures
The
status of electronic signatures (e-signatures) is undergoing major
change and development in many Western jurisdictions. The law of
electronic signatures is in its infancy. In these circumstances, we at
GoPetition provide for the collection of a variety data fields to
provide as much flexibility as possible for each petition author. We
provide custom software so you can build your own fields and collect
the data you need and want.
GoPetition
aims to keep up to date with the latest trends and requirements for
internet petitions and e-signatures while also providing a customized
experience for our campaigners, partners and signers.
Proper research
A
petition should begin with a request, followed by well researched
reasons for making the request. Each petition should provide a
description of relevant circumstances and links to documentation or
facts that support that description. Moreover, a petition should
contain information that suggests its request is feasible.
Clear and concise communication
Don't clutter your petition with
information or requests that have no essential connection to the main
message. Read over your petition carefully. Make sure it:
(1) describes the situation,
(2) suggests what is needed, and
(3) explains why it is needed.
Be clear and concise with your message.
There are many examples of excellent and well written petitions at
GoPetition, so we suggest that you read some of the more popular
petitions and use these as templates before you create a petition.
Privacy
Concerns about data collection and
privacy in regard to e-petitions are important. At GoPetition personal
details provided by signers are not used to send unsolicited e-mail,
and are not sold to any 3rd party. We have the strictest privacy policy
of any petition hosting site. Petition authors must agree to use
e-signatures for legitimate purposes.
How to promote your petition
How you promote your petition will have a critical influence on the outcome of your campaign. Please refer to our help page or email us at info@gopetition.com for a free consultation.
Customer service
We
are committed to quality customer service and advice. If you have any
queries about petition writing or how to write a petition, or you need
help to write a petition, please contact us
and we will reply as a matter of priority. If you need help to start a
petition we can assist with petition writing advice and provide
feedback on how to write a petition. In short, we can advise on how to start a petition and how to promote your petition.
Ready to write a petition? Simply become a member of the GoPetition global community by clicking on the link below.