Petitions
How to apply pressure with your signature. You’ll learn the impact of a successful petition campaign and 5 things to consider before you sign one.
Why petitions work
A petition is a written request signed by a large number of people demanding action from an established authority. Petitions have historically been used to create social change. They:
- Raise awareness about an issue
- Demonstrate public opinion to authorities and media
- Develop a community of people engaged in the issue
- Galvanize action
- Raise money to support advocacy efforts
Proof point
In 2020 petitions have surged in response to the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. The online petition demanding justice for George Floyd had more than 19 million signatures in July 2020. It's the most signed petition on Change.org. Petitioning paired with protest contributed to all four police officers being arrested and charged.
According to the Washington Post, petitions can be really effective, but not in the way you'd typically expect. While they don't always convince the target of the petition to make a decision that supports your cause; they can be extremely effective at recruiting new people to your position. So while you may lose the immediate battle, they can help you win the long term war with a bigger base of engaged advocates.
Who creates a petition?
Anyone can create a petition but they are most effective and credible when the author is directly engaged and known for representing the issue.
HOW TO GET STARTED
Here's what you should know before you sign a petition:
- The creator of the petition
- Their relationship with the issue
- The target audience of the petition
- The goal and solution of the petition
What’s the time commitment?
A petition is generally a low time commitment. We recommend setting aside 15-30 minutes to do your research before signing one. Creating a petition can be a low to medium time investment depending on how knowledgeable you are on the subject matter.
