Your title should be very brief, like a newspaper headline, but it should also communicate as specifically as possible what your petition is about.
Examples: “Mayor Jones: Fix Our Public Schools” or “Save Dewey Elementary from Budget Cuts.”
Write a brief 2-3 sentences to give people more background on your petition. Some key points to include: Why should people care about this issue? Why will signing the petition make a difference? If relevant, what’s the deadline for deciding the issue?
Example: “Dewey Elementary School is poised to lose 10 teachers, our only librarian, and all financial support for popular activities like chess club and volleyball team. Mayor Jones has a chance to reverse these cuts in her upcoming budget. We’re calling on her to stand for students and education and stop the terrible funding cuts to Dewey School.”
This information will help us organize the petitions on SignOn.org so we can make it easier for potential supporters to find your petition.
If your petition relates to multiple issues, just choose the one that you think is most relevant.
When deciding who should receive your petition, think about who actually has the power to solve the problem or make the decision you want. Please be sure to check the spelling and use the individual’s proper title.
If there are multiple people who may be able to solve the problem, focus on the person who is most likely to be influenced by public opinion. For instance, an elected official is usually a better than an unelected judge.
It’s best if you send your petition to a human being. For instance, it’s better to address your petition to WalMart CEO Lee Scott rather than WalMart the corporation.
If you choose The entire U.S. House, then your petition-signers will be asked to sign a petition addressed to their individual representative in the U.S. House of Representatives.
If you choose The entire U.S. Senate, then your petition-signers will be asked to sign a petition addressed to their state's U.S. Senators.
If you choose President Barack Obama, your petition signatures will be addressed to President Barack Obama.
If your petition should be addressed to a specific legislator, type his or her name in the text area. Be sure to check the spelling and use the individual’s proper title.
If you choose The entire State House, then your petition-signers will be asked to sign a petition addressed to their individual representative in the state house of representatives.
If you choose The entire State Senate, then your petition-signers will be asked to sign a petition addressed to their individual representative in the state senate.
If you choose Governor of State, your petition signatures will be addressed to your state’s governor.
This is the message that petition-signers are actually signing, to be delivered to the decision-maker. You will get a lot more signers if your message is short and sweet—one or two sentences at the most. The petition statement is NOT the place to make a detailed persuasive argument for your position.
Example: “Stop the proposed cuts in funding for Dewey Elementary School.”
