How to Create a Petition Online (Step by Step)
iPetitions has helped ordinary people take an ask to decision-makers since 1999, and creating a petition today still comes down to five steps: start with a clear idea, write a specific ask and title, publish your petition using our free tools, share the link with people who care about your cause including on social media, and win the change you're after.
Your petition journey in five simple steps
What do you need before you start a petition?
You need three things: a specific change you want, the person or body with the power to make it, and about ten minutes. Everything else — images, updates, milestones — can be added after you publish.
- A specific, achievable cause
- The decision-maker who can grant it
- About ten minutes
How do you create a petition on iPetitions?
Creating a petition takes one form and five steps, and it's free.
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Go to the Start a Petition page.
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Enter a clear, specific title.
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Describe the problem and your ask — see how to write a petition that wins for the structure that works.
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Name the decision-maker you're petitioning.
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Publish, then confirm your creator email. Supporters who confirm theirs build your verified-signature count.
iPetitions has hosted free petitions since 1999, with more than 80 million signatures collected.
How does signature verification work?
Each signer is asked to confirm their signature by clicking a link in a confirmation email. Confirmed signatures build your verified count — the number decision-makers trust — alongside your total signature count.
What should you do after publishing?
Share your petition the same day you publish it — early momentum decides most campaigns.
- • Send the link by email and post it to social media
- • Post updates as signatures and momentum build
- • Thank signers so they stay invested and keep sharing
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Creating, publishing and sharing a petition on iPetitions is completely free, and has been since 1999.
No. Signers confirm their signature by email — no account is required to sign.
Yes, from your dashboard. You can edit freely until your petition reaches 5 verified signatures; then the title, text, target and goal lock to protect what people signed — post updates for anything new.
There is no minimum. A school board may act on 200 local signatures; a national campaign may need tens of thousands.