How much does it cost to become a member of GoPetition?

Opening an account with GoPetition is free. To see the great features offered by GoPetition, click here. GoPetition also offers premium services for interested subscribers.

How do I edit and manage my petition and signatures? How do I delete unwanted signatures? Can I download and backup my petition signatures? What will they look like? Can I print them? How do I add photos, videos, documents or links  to my petition?  Can I format my petition?

If you are a petition author, simply log in to your account and go to your Control Panel (if not verified please verify your membership). From your Control Panel click on My Petitions. After selecting your petition you will be taken to your petition management toolbox. Please browse all options in your toolbox. To edit the text of your petition click on the link "Edit petition details". To link to a primary website  click on "Edit preferences". To add documents, links, photos or video to your petition click on "Format my petition". You will also find other helpful links in your toolbox to help you manage your petition's content.

From your petition toolbox you can also manage your petition's signatures at any time. Signature management  includes an edit and delete facility. So you can tailor (edit) your signature list to exclude human spam, bad spelling and mistakes in grammar.

If you receive a complaint from a signer that their signature is appearing in Google, you can make their signature "Anonymous" by using the relevant check box in the signature editor, or simply delete the signature.

Petition signature downloads and backups are part of our Premium Services package which offers a number of valuable tools to promote and manage your campaign. For subscribers to Premium Services, signatures may be downloaded and backed up in 3 different file formats (PDF, CSV, html). PDF downloads can be automatically compiled into an acrobat reader document (PDF), while CSV can be managed in Excel (or other spreadsheet programs). Html downloads can be displayed inside a web browser for printing. An example of the PDF style document can be viewed by clicking here. If you don't have acrobat reader you can get it here from Adobe. Our PDF files support English and ALL European languages. Petition signatures can be printed after download. If you do not subscribe to Premium Services you can still manage your petition signatures for free and send them to your target for free by emailing the URL of the signature list for online viewing. We do recommend Premium Services for file backups.

My signature is appearing in Google. How do I remove it?

Signers are responsible for the information they provide. GoPetition provides a clear link to the GoPetition Privacy Policy in the signature process. The Privacy Policy indicates that signatures may be publicly displayed in a signature list and that this list may be indexed by search engines.  GoPetition also provides a way to prevent the publication of signature names by allowing signers to designate their signatures as "Anonymous". Signers who fail to read the Privacy Policy or who fail to designate their signatures as "Anonymous" do so at their own risk.

If you signed any petition with your email address then you may join GoPetition, verify your membership, and then edit or remove your previous signature(s) (as your account will be updated with your previous signature details when you join). So you may join GoPetition and remove your signature(s).

If you do have access to your signature (as outlined above) then simply log in to GoPetition, go to your Control Panel and click on My Signatures, and remove your signature from the GoPetition site. (Alternatively, you can change your signature settings to make your name "Anonymous".) Once your signature has been removed from GoPetition (or made anonymous) then Google will update its listings when the Google index spider next visits the relevant GoPetition signature list. This updating process may take several days. So even though your signature has been removed from GoPetition (or made anonymous) it may still appear in Google for a short time until Google updates itself. For further information about Google's indexing policy you may wish to search Google Help: http://www.google.com/support/?hl=en

I have problems logging in. I am constantly returned to the login page.  My control panel links won't work. I created a petition but can't find it.

Please make sure that you are using the correct login (email address). You may have joined GoPetition with an old email address. Second, make sure cookies are enabled on your computer. This can be done by adjusting your security settings to allow cookies. Just go to your computer's Security tab (if you have a Windows computer you will see the Security tab in your Windows control panel), then click on Internet Options, Privacy tab to make the changes to allow cookies. After you have adjusted your settings to allow cookies please reload the page you are trying to access. You can reload by hitting ctrl + f5. Try to log in again, access your control panel and start or manage your petition(s). GoPetition requires cookies to be activated for several processes. If you continue to have difficulty,  please contact us with your question.

I created a petition but can't find it. Where is my petition?

Please enable cookies on your computer. This can be done by adjusting your security settings to allow cookies. Just go to your computer's Security tab, Internet Options, Privacy tab to make the changes to allow cookies. After you have adjusted your settings to allow cookies please reload the page you are trying to access. You can reload by hitting ctrl + f5. Try to log in again, access your control panel and start or manage your petition(s). You may have to recreate your petition after changing your cookie settings. If you continue to have difficulty,  please contact us with your question.

I cannot see the "verification code" to sign a petition or it does not work.

Our verification code (captcha code or security code) requires that cookies and JavaScript are enabled in your browser. The following Instructions will explain how to enable cookies and JavaScript in your browser. To ensure JavaScript and cookies are enabled try these steps:

Do you have JavaScript disabled? If you have JavaScript disabled, please follow instructions listed below to enable JavaScript. Internet Explorer 5 and later:
1. Click Tools, then click on Internet Options.
2. Click the Security tab.
3. Click the Custom Level button.
4. Scroll to the Scripting section. Under Active scripting, Allow paste operations via script, and Scripting of Java applets, check Enable.
5. Click OK button.

Other browsers:  To see if your browser supports JavaScript, and for detailed instructions about how to enable this feature, see the online Help for your browser.

Do you have cookies disabled? Cookies are required for some of the GoPetition pages. We need to store cookies (small text files on your computer) to assist us in user authentication. If your browser is not set to allow cookies, GoPetition cookies will be rejected. Please ensure cookies are enabled. To ensure cookies are enabled, try these steps:
1. Make sure that your browser is configured to accept cookies. For information about how to enable cookies, see the online help for your Web browser.
2. Check to see that your computer system time is accurate. Cookies are time sensitive and may not work if your computer date is incorrect by a large amount.
3. Turn off any third party programs or control panels that automatically reject cookies.

Are you using a browser that doesn't support JavaScript and cookies? If your browser does not support JavaScript and cookies, you may need to upgrade to the latest version of your browser.

The verification code is designed to stop automated robot spam. This is critical so that we can offer signature lists of the highest integrity. If you are visually impaired, you can download an audio file of the verification code from each petition's sign page. If you have problems with the audio file please contact us. Please note that you may also become a verified member of GoPetition to improve site access. As a verified member you will not have to navigate through complex codes or captchas, nor will you be subjected to audio instructions. You can become a member here. Ultimately, we recommend that all our regular users become verified members of the GoPetition community. This will greatly enhance your site access and experience and enable you to gain extra site benefits.

What petition management features does GoPetition offer?

To see the great features offered by GoPetition, click here.

Can I block human spam signatures? Someone is spamming my petition.

GoPetition Premium Services includes an IP filter that can be managed in real time. So if someone is spamming your petition you can block their computer following our easy-to-follow instructions. We also give you advice on how to geo-locate spammers.

What is the difference between an e-petition and a paper petition?

In essence there is no difference between the two. It is possible to collect signatures both online and on paper. It is also possible to transfer your signatures from paper by simply entering them online. So your campaign may use both Internet and paper formats to achieve the best results. For more online petition information.

Do online petitions actually work?

Many online petition campaigns are extremely effective. GoPetition now documents its success stories to show exactly how effective they really are. If you want more information on how to write a petition, click this link.

GoPetition apparently sent me an email, but I did not receive it. Why?

Because GoPetition sends out many automatic emails to its users, sometimes these messages are flagged as junk mail, or spam. We suggest you check your spam/junk mail filter for the email and we also recommend all our users add 'GoPetition' to their whitelist (safelist). We never send any unsolicited emails and this helps to make sure we can get in touch with you when we really need to.

What is the best way to write a petition?

Please see our notes at how to write a petition. This page has many in depth resources for petition writing. We also have a more basic introductory how to start a petition page, which is less complicated, but equally as helpful.

How do I get people to sign my petition?

Please use our tell a friend facility. You should also raise your issues in forums and discussion groups. You should email as many relevant people as you can (but please do not spam people). Please also use our social bookmarking service which is located at the bottom of every petition.

You may also find it useful to get relevant web sites to link to your petition. Note that the more web pages with links to your petition, the more search engines will recognize it as an important page and send people to it, so try to get as many web links as you can. Knowledge databases such as Wikipedia.org sometimes have relevant articles, which can be linked to your petition. You should also search for sites/articles with similar interests to your petition and email the owners, as they will probably link to you.

You may promote your petition using our social bookmarking service. You may peruse the social bookmark icons which are located at the bottom of each petition page. These icons lead to social networking sites where you can promote your petition.

We also recommend that you consider purchasing a sponsored link from GoPetition to place your petition link on one of our high traffic pages. For details, contact us.

My petition authorship (name) is appearing in Google. How do I remove it?

If you are a petition author, the first thing you need to do is to log in to your account and access the petition(s) with your name on them. In the petition toolbox settings you have a setting called "petition display name". You need to change this from your actual name to your user name or anonymous. Note that anonymous petitions are far less well supported, so we recommend you use your real name and where this is not possible, your username.

Once your authorship has been updated (by using a username or alias or anon designation), Google will update its listings when the Google index spider next visits the relevant GoPetition petition page(s). This updating process may take several days. So even though your authorship has been updated, Google may display older content for a short time until Google updates itself.

How do I edit or remove my signature? I made a spelling mistake, double entry, or regret my comments, or accidentally checked or unchecked "Anonymous" etc.

Signers are responsible for the information they provide. GoPetition provides a clear link to the GoPetition Privacy Policy in the signature process. The Privacy Policy indicates that signatures may be publicly displayed in a signature list and that this list may be indexed by search engines.  GoPetition also provides a way to prevent the publication of signature names by allowing signers to designate their signatures as "Anonymous". Signers who fail to read the Privacy Policy or who fail to designate their signatures as "Anonymous" do so at their own risk.

If you signed any petition with your email address then you may join GoPetition, verify your membership, and then edit or remove your previous signature(s) (as your account will be updated with your previous signature details when you join). So you may join GoPetition and remove your signature(s).

I signed a petition. Are my details and personal info safe and secure?

Yes. We have a strict privacy and security policy. Please read our privacy statement.

Can friends and family sign with my email address?

Yes you can have family and friends sign with your email address. If you are a  GoPetition member then you will need to log in before your family and friends can sign from your computer. If you are not a member then other family members can sign with your email address. These signatures will be stored in your GoPetition account (if you open an account later with the same email address).

I accidentally posted a message in the forums and I'd like it removed? Or, I posted a message in the forums and now I want it removed?

Please contact the relevant petition author and ask for your post to be edited or removed. If the author does not reply, contact us with the URL of the message (shown in the address bar in your browser), as this includes the message number, which is about 6 digits long. If you can't get the message number or URL, please send us the exact message text, the name on the post, related petition or any other information. Note that we currently maintain tens of thousands of petitions and hundreds of thousands of messages, so we could not possibly monitor all the content on the site, so we will need information to find your message. An administrative charge may be levied in some circumstances to remove content from the site. GoPetition moderation services operate on a periodic ad hoc basis and we rely on users or members to report problems or abuse.

If your forum message, topic or reply has been removed from GoPetition, then Google will update its listings when the Google index spider next visits the relevant GoPetition forum. This updating process may take several days. So even though your message has been removed from GoPetition it may still appear in Google for a short time until Google updates itself. GoPetition does not control the use of your message by third parties. Please see the GoPetition Disclaimer.

My name is appearing on your site and in Google. I didn't place my name on your site. How do I remove it?

Someone may have placed your name in a signature list or on a forum without your permission. Please contact the relevant petition author and ask the author to remove your name from the petition or forum. When your name has been removed by the author please go to the signature list or forum to confirm that your name has been removed. Once your name has been removed from GoPetition, then Google will update its listings when the Google index spider next visits the relevant GoPetition signature list or forum. This updating process may take several days. So even though your name has been removed from GoPetition it may still appear in Google for a short time until Google updates itself. GoPetition cannot control the use of your name by third parties, however we will address any complaints if received. Please see the GoPetition Disclaimer.

How do I start a petition?

Please view our in depth help page outlining how to write a petition, as well as the more basic help page how to start a petition.

Can I make a contribution to someone else's campaign?

Yes. Contributions can be made by clicking here. After you make your contribution, simply contact us with details of the campaign you are supporting.

Can I edit my petition?

Yes. However, it's important that the actual petition text does not change substantially (for legal reasons). Your edit request will be reviewed so that it complies with our terms and conditions.

Note there are also many options on your petition that can be changed at any time during your campaign using your control panel. If you own a petition and want to edit your petition, some of your petition settings, or you want to close your petition, please login by clicking the login button in the top right hand corner of this page, then enter your email address and chosen password to access your petition control panel.

What time zone do you use? What time zone is used for signature dates?

GoPetition signature lists are based on Central Standard Time (CST), USA and Canada. Central Standard Time (CST) is 6 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-6).  We also observe Daylight-Saving Time (DST)  in our signature lists. DST CT (or CDT) is 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-5).

I am visually impaired. Does your site give me access to your services?

If you are visually impaired you can still use GoPetition site services. If you are signing a petition, you can download an audio file of the verification code from each sign page. In addition, you may also become a verified member of the GoPetition community to improve site access. As a verified member you will not have to navigate through complex codes or captchas, nor will you be subjected to audio instructions. You can become a member here. Ultimately, we recommend that all our regular users become verified members of the GoPetition community. This will greatly enhance your site access and experience and enable you to gain extra site benefits.

How can I promote my petition?

You may wish to take advantage of our special campaign promotion facility. For a small monthly sponsorship contribution you can gain access to one of our sponsorship lists and in some cases even be featured on our homepage or one of our regional homepages. To sponsor your petition simply contact us  to discuss your level of sponsorship and then click on sponsorship for easy payment.

We also have a facility whereby you may request the removal of ads from your petition and replace them with your own banner and tile. Please contact us if you are interested in promoting your petition with this service.

How can I link to GoPetition?

If you would like to link to GoPetition please view our banner page.

How can I sponsor my petition?

You may wish to take advantage of our special campaign sponsorship facility. For a small monthly contribution we can list your petition on our high traffic homepage or one of our regional homepages. To sponsor your petition simply contact us  to discuss your level of sponsorship and then click on sponsorship for easy payment.

I want to subscribe to premium services. How much does it cost?

Go to your member control panel and click on the premium services link. See pricing on the PayPal link at the bottom of that page.

What happens to each petition after signatures are collected? Who sends the petition to the petitionee (target)?

Each petition author is the campaign manager for their cause. So each author is primarily responsible for presenting their petition results when they are ready. GoPetition does, however, provide many campaign and promotional tools to help authors achieve the results they want. Numerous petitions hosted at GoPetition have achieved outstanding outcomes resulting in real and meaningful change. Please browse our many success stories. Signature lists can be viewed online at GoPetition 24/7, so the signature list URL can be sent to your target at any time. Moreover, if your target has the signature list URL then they can view updates in real time.

How can I support or donate to GoPetition?

Some supporters which to make a donation to GoPetition. If you wish to donate then please click here to see our donation page. 

Important Links

Please click on the following links for further information:

Great features at GoPetition

How to write a petition

About Us

How to start a petition

Petition Templates

Petition Examples

Sample Petitions

Petition Formats

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To ask a question, provide feedback, or make a suggestion, click here.