Opponents of Maryland's gay marriage law plan on Tuesday to deliver the first batch of petitions needed to put the law up to a popular vote.

“The reality is there is incredible excitement out there,” Pastor Derek McCoy, executive director of the Maryland Marriage Alliance, which is leading the effort to force a November vote on the law, told The Baltimore Sun. “I don't think there is anything that has hit Maryland like this in years.”

Opponents have until Thursday to turn in one-third (18,579) of the 55,736 valid voter signatures needed to secure a slot on this year's ballot. The remaining signatures are due by June 30.

The legislation, which was heavily championed by Democratic Governor Martin O'Malley, passed the General Assembly in March but won't go into effect until January.

“We're going to put this thing to rest,” Delegate Emmett C. Burns Jr, a Baltimore County Democrat, told The Washington Times. “Once it's put to rest, these politicians who are coming out in favor of this are going to be debunked and embarrassed.”

A survey released by Public Policy Polling shows the marriage law has benefited from President Obama's recent endorsement. According to the poll, support has increased 5 points since March to 57 percent.

“People's opinions are evolving as there's a larger community discussion of this,” said Delegate Heather R. Mizeur, who is openly gay. “When people see an issue in the news and talk about it at their kitchen tables, they are better able to wrestle with the issue at hand.”