Handing in your petition

Petition hand-ins are important campaign milestones – as are them getting big!

So make sure you make the most of the campaign momentum it can offer.

Here are some things to think about when planning your petition hand-in.

Practical things

  1. Go to the Results tab of your action. Export the results as a CSV or XLS Excel file. mceclip0.png mceclip1.png
  2. Remove as much data from the spreadsheet as you can. Only include what you think the target genuinely needs to know. You can avoid this step (and avoid having lots of supporters' personal data on your computer) by downloading a custom spreadsheet and only selecting the fields you want for the petition hand-in. CleanShot_2022-02-16_at_16.41.42.gif
  3. Print off the remaining data. Put all the paper in the biggest box you can find. Put a covering letter inside explaining the campaign, what you want the target to do, your contact details for follow-up questions. Make the box look good with your logo and maybe the number of signatures.
  4. If appropriate, arrange with the target to drop off the petition. If they're friendly (big if!), ask if you can take photos with them<
  5. Is there anything else you want to give to the target? You could put in craftivist objects, reports, anything that will make your petition stand out and help it make it to the decision-maker's desk.

Now some strategy…

  1. Is this the right time to hand in your petition? Could your petition run longer? Is this the most politically advantageous time to hand in your petition and stop collecting signatures?
  2. Do you want to announce the hand-in date and do a final push for signatures?
  3. Make the most of the petition hand-in in your communications with supporters. Who would be interested in the hand-in? Do you want to invite people to the hand-in? Keep people who took the action updated on what happened.
  4. Take photos of the hand-in. Think about how you're going to make the photos look good. How're you going to dress? Where are you going to be? What's the best backdrop for the photo?
  5. Would any media be interested in the petition? How can you make them interested?
  6. What are you going to do with the people who signed the petition in the future? How are you going to communicate with them and bring them with you to the next stage of this or other campaigns? Do you want them to donate? Our free report on Great supporter journeys and how to automate them will give you some ideas.
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