A Lawrence-based group opposed to the war in Iraq is about to start a new effort to show how many area residents are opposed to the conflict.

The Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice announced Thursday it is starting a drive to collect signatures of people opposed to the war. The group previously tried unsuccessfully to convince city commissioners to place a question on the November ballot asking city residents whether they supported the war.

Allan Hanson, a member of the coalition, said the new strategy is simply to collect signatures of people who support a withdrawal of U.S. troops to show the “breadth” of opinion in Lawrence.

The group will have people out in the community with the signature sheets and also is allowing people to sign by going to its Web site, www.lcpj.org.

The effort isn’t an official petition because it won’t be presented to any governing body in an effort to place a question on a future ballot. Instead, Hanson said the group simply will publicize how many area residents have signed onto the statement.