Get out the vote with postcards and letters!

[semielliptical]

Writing postcards and letters is one way to help get out the vote for US elections. hermionesviolin posted here last month about Postcards to Swing States, which is a great campaign, but they have completed their sign-ups for this year.

So if you are looking for other opportunities to write to US voters, or if you signed up for Postcards to Swing States and want to write while waiting for those postcards to arrive, consider the organizations below. I have written for all of them over the last several years; the variety of messages and styles has helped me maintain my motivation to reach out to voters.

I listed supplies needed in case that is helpful; check out the websites for full instructions.


Center for Common Ground / Reclaim Our Vote
“Fighting for Voting Rights and Mobilizing Voters of Color.”
Uses messages that are respectful and culturally sensitive, and includes personalized, local voting information
Supplies needed:

• Order and use only their postcards.
• Postcard stamps.
• Not absolutely necessary, but very helpful: access to a printer for printing labels with local voting information.

Postcards to Voters
“Friendly, handwritten reminders from volunteers to targeted voters giving Democrats a winning edge in close, key races coast to coast.” Write for a variety of campaigns, both large and small. You’re usually instructed to mail the postcards immediately so you can feel accomplished right away.
Supplies needed:

• Postcards: provide your own, either from their Etsy store or any other source with suitable designs. You can even use pre-stamped postcards from the USPS; very cost-effective.
• Postcard stamps.

Vote Forward
Add a personal, heartfelt message to get-out-the vote letters targeting voters in swing states.
Supplies needed:

• Access to a printer for printing letters.
• Envelopes and stamps.

If you have other organizations or campaigns to recommend, please comment!

Comments

Blue Wave postcards for Arizona

[executrix]

Linked from The Daily Kos:
https://shop.bluewavepostcards.org/pages/write-postcards?source=dailykos

Re: Blue Wave postcards for Arizona

[semielliptical]

Thanks! That's another great option!

[bibliofile]

Elseweb I read to ask who you're sending the postcards to: registered? have they voted before? if yes, how many times? etc.

This info could help the postcards be gentle reminders as opposed to quite annoying.

(Me, I wish I could opt out. Yes, I'm voting! Write to someone else!)

[semielliptical]

I think that each organization/campaign has specific criteria for generating the voter lists they use, and most provide some information on their website about how they choose to target voters.

I know it's annoying to get unneeded reminders! I often get election day phone calls even after I have already voted early. But voter lists are never going to be perfect. I think with any effort on this scale there are going to be a small percentage of names on their lists that aren't good matches, for various reasons.

[jazzyjj]

I'd be happy to do this in my spare time, but my finances are rather limited right now. Is there a chance of writing emails or some other form of online messages to voters? A related question is: how do we know who is a Democrat and who isn't without asking them first? Probably pretty obvious to some, but not others. I know whom I'm voting for, and it isn't the Don!

[semielliptical]

The cost of postage and other supplies can really add up! I'm lucky I can afford to do this, and I've also had some friends and family donate stamps for my efforts.

Vote Forward, the letter writing organization, offers a limited number of free letter writing kits. They'll send you pre-printed letters, envelopes, and stamps.

As for online voter contacts, there are definitely some options out there. In the past I have helped with texting voters - you use an online system, not your actual phone, and you'll get training and support. I texted with Indivisible Chicago. You don't need to be local to participate, but you could also look for a local-to-you Indivisible group who might be doing something similar.

I think there will be more texting opportunities close to the election. I know the Center for Common Ground has had texting campaigns in the past, and there might be some through the Progressive Turnout Project (the group that runs Postcards to Swing States.)

I think in most (all?) states, voter registration includes what party someone is registered with. So the organizations are targeting voters based on that information, and probably other related data too.

[hermionesviolin]

Thanks for the pointer to Center for Common Ground / Reclaim Our Vote. I signed up for postcarding with them after I got through the postcards I'd signed up for from Postcards to Swing States and have now done close to 100 postcards through them.

It's definitely more labor intensive (and requires more supplies and a little more money) than Postcards to Swing States, but I love their mission -- including that they do outreach for primaries, special elections, etc.

[semielliptical]

Oh wow, that's a lot of postcards! It's great to know that you got involved with Reclaim Our Vote. Writing for them feels especially meaningful.