Signature Gathering
Statewide, citywide, and parish-wide petition drives run by trained, professionally managed field teams.
What signature gathering is
Signature gathering — also called petitioning or petition circulation — is the process of collecting valid voter signatures to qualify a measure, initiative, or candidate for the ballot. Every state sets its own rules: how many signatures are required, who is legally allowed to circulate a petition, what proof of residency or registration a signer must have, how long the collection window stays open, and how signatures are validated once submitted.
Why campaigns hire a professional firm
Signature requirements are counted in the tens or hundreds of thousands on statewide measures, and they carry hard deadlines that do not move. A portion of raw signatures is always invalidated during verification — duplicates, unregistered signers, signers outside the required district, incomplete entries — so campaigns must collect a meaningful buffer above the legal minimum. Volunteer-only efforts frequently fall short of that buffer, and a shortfall discovered after the deadline cannot be corrected.
What we deliver
The Works fields trained, professionally managed collection teams and delivers signatures reviewed against state election law standards before submission. We have collected more than 325,000 verified signatures across 13+ states and more than 50 campaigns since 2022, including statewide initiative work in California, Massachusetts, and Texas.
The Numbers
Signature Gathering FAQ
How many signatures does a ballot initiative require?
It varies by state and by measure type. Requirements are typically set as a percentage of votes cast in a recent statewide election, and constitutional amendments usually require more signatures than statutory measures. Many states also require signatures to be distributed across a minimum number of counties or districts rather than concentrated in one metro area.
How far in advance should a campaign hire a signature gathering firm?
As early as possible. Statewide initiative campaigns generally work with collection windows measured in months, and building, deploying, and managing a field team of the necessary size takes real lead time. Campaigns that engage a firm months ahead of the filing deadline have far more strategic options than those calling in the final weeks.
What makes a signature invalid?
Common causes include the signer not being a registered voter, being registered outside the required jurisdiction, signing more than once, providing an incomplete or illegible address, or errors in the circulator affidavit. Because some share of signatures is always lost to verification, campaigns should plan to collect meaningfully more than the legal minimum.
Do you work nationwide?
Yes. The Works operates nationwide and has run campaigns in 13+ states including California, Texas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Virginia, Florida, Illinois, New Hampshire, Vermont, Colorado, and New Mexico.
What Else We Do
Door Knocking & Canvassing
Direct voter contact at the door — targeted, tracked, and professionally managed.
Voter Engagement
Educating the public on initiatives and candidates — building real grassroots support.
Field Team Management
Logistics, production targets, and quality control across every active location.
Ready to Get Signatures?
Client, partner company, or canvasser looking for work — The Works is ready for you.