Ballot Access & Petition Drive Management
From signature target to ballot qualification.
Getting on the ballot is an execution problem before it becomes a political one. We plan and operate petition programs around the numbers that matter, then build the field operation required to hit them before the filing deadline.
Who this is for
- Campaigns facing a signature requirement and a fixed filing deadline
- Ballot initiative and referendum committees
- Independent and third-party candidates pursuing qualification
- Organizations coordinating qualification across several states at once
How we approach it
We start from the requirement and work backwards: signatures needed, realistic validity rate, buffer, days remaining, circulators required, and the daily production figure each market has to hit. That number governs the entire operation.
Momentum is nonpartisan. We evaluate engagements on operational fit, requirements and our ability to execute, not on party or ideology.
Common problems
What usually goes wrong.
The target math was never done
Raw signature goals are set without validity assumptions, so the program is behind before it starts.
Production is behind and nobody knows by how much
Without a daily required-rate figure, the gap is only discovered when the deadline is close.
Validity is checked too late
Verification after submission cannot fix anything. Problems have to surface while there is still time to correct.
Coverage is uneven
Some jurisdictions are oversubscribed while others fall short of their own requirement.
The operating sequence
How the work actually runs.
- 01Target
- 02Plan
- 03Recruit
- 04Train
- 05Collect
- 06Verify
- 07File
Operational figures are founder-provided totals across prior field operations and are not independently audited. Totals are aggregate and are not attributed to any individual campaign.
What we put in place
The operating structure.
Target and validity modeling
A submission goal built on realistic validity assumptions and a deliberate buffer, not the raw statutory minimum.
Jurisdiction compliance
Circulator eligibility, witness and notary requirements, and form rules handled per jurisdiction.
Territory and coverage planning
Assignment built around where signatures actually exist, then adjusted against live production data.
Daily production management
Per-circulator quotas, daily reporting, and intervention when a market drifts below its required rate.
Verification before submission
Quality control running continuously so bad work is caught while it can still be replaced.
Filing readiness
Packet assembly and submission handled against the deadline, not on the day of it.
Common questions
How is the signature target actually set?
We work backwards from the statutory requirement using a realistic validity assumption and a deliberate buffer, then convert that into a daily production figure per market. Treating every raw signature as valid is the most common way programs miss.
Can Momentum run a qualification effort in several states at once?
Yes. Multi-state work is standard, and each state is planned separately because circulator rules, deadlines and labor markets differ. See multi-state field operations.
Is Momentum aligned with a party?
No. Momentum is nonpartisan and evaluates engagements on operational fit, requirements and our ability to execute.
Tell us the target and the deadline.
We will tell you what the operation has to look like to hit it.
Prefer email?
mlavaud@momentumcns.com