How to Petition to Stop a City Action
The ability to petition to stop a city action is an important part of the democratic process. There are a couple of different approaches you can take to start a petition. Typically, city actions are ordinances or regulations proposed by city councils. Some city councils have petition forms available on the city council's website, while others merely supply address and contact information regarding where to send a petition. You can choose to create and submit a petition with just your signature, or you can create a petition and get it signed by people in your city who agree with your petition.
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Instructions
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Visit your city council's website. Your city council may have a petition form available for you to print and fill out.
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Decide what you'd like to write on your petition. A good petition is well-written and describes the city action you're trying to stop. Research the city action with which you disagree and write a thoughtful response to why the action shouldn't be put into effect.
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Consider whether you want to send the petition to your city council with just your signature or if you want to gather additional signatures. Typically, the petition forms offered on city council websites don't provide room for more than your signature. Visit your city council's website to determine whether a petition form is available and if it allows for additional signatures.
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Visit a few petition websites. There are many websites offering free petition hosting. Often, this is the easiest way to create a petition, circulate it and gather signatures.
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Choose a petition hosting website. Once you've decided which website you prefer, follow the instructions for creating a petition. Online petition forms offer a section for you to describe the action you're petitioning against. Additionally, these forms ask for the target of the petition; in this case, it's likely to be your city council.
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Gather email addresses for potential signatures. You can send a link to your online petition in an email. The person receiving the email can click the link and be automatically directed to your petition. They can then sign it, if they support it. Once you've gathered signatures, you should print the petition. The printed version will include the petition and the signatures of those who chose to support the petition and sign it.
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Mail the petition to your city council. Check your city council's website to obtain a mailing address. Some online petition websites offer the option of emailing the petition to a city council. You should contact the clerk of your city council and ask whether it has a preferred method for receiving petitions.
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Tips & Warnings
Generally, a petition with multiple signatures carries more weight than a petition with just one backer.
