Is there anything in your community, region or country that you would like to change? Write a petition. Petitions can change the world if they are thought out carefully and written correctly. Perhaps you already have a cause or campaign in mind to propose and in this tutorial you can find some tips that will help you write an unbeatable petition.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Inquire
Step 1. Check that the campaign you want to launch is the responsibility of the local administration
Contact the administrative office of your municipality or check the municipal website. The petition may need to be filed at the local or state level. Ask the office to refer you to the industry that handles matters related to your cause. Then ask for guidelines for setting up the petition.
Step 2. Find out how many signatures you need
This is very important. It would be terrible to set yourself the goal of 1,000 signatures, reach it and then discover that 2,000 were needed. Also, find out if the petition needs approval before it is released.
Step 3. Find out how to collect signatures for the petition to have formal value
If you are trying to promote the name of a candidate to add to the ballot and the law says that it is necessary to indicate the address of each signatory, ask the subscribers to indicate it.
Step 4. Research the topic so that you fully understand the various positions
Doing research on the topic that interests you is also a good way to find out if someone has already started a petition similar to yours before.
Step 5. Evaluate the ideal means of communication to spread your campaign
Regardless of the choice, it is still important to write the petition correctly (see below for further advice on this). Paper petitions may be more effective in local settings, but online petitions can reach larger sections of the population much faster. Consider relying on sites like change.org, firmiamo.it or petizionepubblica.it, which offer a higher level of reliability than other competing sites. Social networks like Facebook can also be a great way to get significant online support for an issue. Keep in mind that details are as important for online appeals as they are for paper appeals.
If your cause also involves action, and not just sharing a position, consider collective demonstrations as an alternative to collecting signatures. For example, you can start a campaign on online forums. These and other similar sites give the same kind of support as paper petitions, but are focused on concrete actions and initiatives to push for change without just passive requests
Part 2 of 4: Writing the Petition
Step 1. Make a very specific statement indicating what you want people to support
It must be precise, concise and informative text.
- A weak message: "We demand more funds for the park". This sentence is too general. What kind of park? How much money?
- A strong message: "We ask that the Lombardy Region allocate more funds for a new park in the southern suburbs of Milan". More precise details are clearly given in this sentence.
Step 2. Create a concise petition
People are less likely to support a cause if they have to spend too much time reading what you have to say. No matter how long your request is, it is important to specify the goal clearly at the beginning of all the text. Then you can state all your reasons. The opening one is the paragraph that most people will just read.
Here is an example of the first paragraph of a petition: We ask that the Lombardy Region allocate more funds for a new park in the southern suburbs of Milan. This area has no parks. Our children need to have a place to experience nature and play outdoors
Step 3. Add more sections to support the first paragraph statement
These additional points should contain specific information and examples that show the importance of the cause you are fighting for. Add as many points as you want in the text, but keep in mind that most people you talk to on the road won't read them all.
Step 4. Review the summary carefully
Make sure that: 1) it describes the situation, 2) proposes useful things, and 3) explains why it is necessary. Is it clearly illustrated? If a person is unfamiliar with the situation, can they understand it by reading your petition?
Step 5. Check the text for spelling and grammatical errors
The presence of errors makes a petition less likely and very unlikely to be taken seriously. Use the spell checker and re-read the text to find the most obvious mistakes. Also read aloud to see if the sentences are fluent and if they make sense.
Step 6. Ask someone else to read the text, preferably a friend or relative who is unfamiliar with the issue
Can you understand your goal? Can you state that this is a petition, do you understand what you are asking and why you are asking?
Part 3 of 4: Create the Signature Form
Step 1. Set up a form to collect signatures on a separate sheet of paper
Put the petition title on top. The title must be concise but descriptive.
Here is an example of a title: Petition for a New Park in the Southern Suburbs of Milan
Step 2. Prepare the layout of the document using a spreadsheet
It will look much more professional and it will be easier to tweak it if needed. Divide the page into five columns to indicate your name, address, e-mail, telephone number and signature (for some types of petitions it is necessary to add a column dedicated to the identity document). Leave a lot of space for the address column. Set 10 to 20 lines per page.
If you don't have a computer and you can't create a spreadsheet, go to the library in your country, where the person in charge or a volunteer can help you use the facility's computer to write your petition. If this is not feasible, with a ruler divide an A4 sheet into the five (or six) columns described in the previous point and follow the instructions above
Step 3. Photocopy or print multiple copies of the original
Duplicate pages based on the number of signatures needed for your request. Number them so that you can keep track of them and calculate the signatures you have obtained. You could also ask signers to put their initials on the pages they have used or checked so that you can trace them back and ask questions in case of questionable compilations. Marking the pages also increases overall credibility.
Part 4 of 4: Promote the Petition
Step 1. Talk to people in person
Go to those places where you can talk to a large number of people who are interested in the issue or who are otherwise willing to know and inform themselves about the issue. If your petition is about a school, talk to local people or at the school itself. Make your petition known by talking about it in your office. Post posters and flyers on your community bulletin boards to raise awareness of your cause.
Step 2. Harness the power of email
Create an online version of the petition and send it to your family, friends and acquaintances. Try not to flood them with emails; know that even if you email them every day for a month, you will not be able to get the desired results. Rather, follow the first round of petitions with two or three reminders during the time you are collecting signatures.
Step 3. Set up an online petition page
Create a blog or forum where you can discuss the proposed topic and answer questions from potential signatories. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter are great tools for disseminating information and could help make a movement big enough to get national feedback.
Step 4. Get media coverage
Contact local media to spread the cause; try a local radio or newspaper first. If your petition gets consensus, you will also find support from the media.
Step 5. Be polite
Nobody likes dealing with an angry activist trying not to be late for work. Even if someone believes in your cause, they may not have the time or funds to support you right now. Don't take it personally! It's always best to be nice - they can always contact you or financially help your cause when they have the time and resources.
Advice
- Attach signature collection sheets to a rigid clipboard by attaching a pen to it. Sometimes there isn't a comfortable surface on which to write and sign; a potential subscriber does not always have a pen. So get yourself a clipboard and a couple of pens!
- Keep the sheets clean and don't fold them. The petition may look less professional if the papers are dirty and worn.
- Remember to thank after getting a signature. You will show respect and maturity in this way.
