How to write to voters: letters or postcards?
In a world dominated by digital communication, the simple joy of receiving a handwritten letter or postcard is more powerful than ever, and can increase turnout by as much as 3.4%!*
Imagine the thrill of knowing your personal note inspired someone to head to the polls and influence the outcomes of the election. Ready to dive in and start writing? When it comes to mobilizing voters, both letters and postcards offer something special. With either, you’ll sign up to receive a specific list of voter addresses from a vetted source. Once you “claim” these voters, they’re yours! Carve out the time to write and mail your letter or postcard on time to ensure each voter receives a handwritten note ahead of the election.
Both letters and postcards are effective at boosting voter turnout! Just pick the format that seems simplest for you.
Here’s a breakdown of the differences between three options: Vote Forward, Activate America, and Blue Wave Movement.
You can write both postcards and letters if you wish, or choose one or the other.
Quick comparisons:
💰Cost Effective: Comparable! Both letter writing and postcards require the purchase of stamps. If you’re postcarding, you’ll purchase the physical postcards. Here’s a cheat sheet on ordering postcards and stamps. Letters might be slightly more budget-friendly if you already own a printer because the cost is printer paper and envelopes.
Time: With letters, there’s one extra step of putting letters in envelopes. Postcards just need your personalization and a stamp, no envelope required!
Recipient experience: postcards are eye-catching in the mail and their short, punchy messages (with no envelope to open) grab attention right away. Meanwhile, there’s something nostalgic and magical about opening an envelope with a handwritten letter.
Whether you choose letters or postcards, you’re contributing to an essential get-out-the-vote effort. It’s all about what works best for you.
Call to Action: Get started today!
How you accomplish your letter writing and postcarding is totally flexible. Some options
For introverts: Talking politics can be scary. Writing to voters is effective and on your terms. Start here! You can print out a batch of letters or order postcards, fill them out, and mail them on your own. (Join #action-letters-to-voters to share tips and inspiration with people who are already at it!)
For busy people: Bored on a plane? Multitasking during Love Island? Have a few minutes at lunch? Letters and postcards fit easily into the gaps in your schedule. Or RSVP to a weekly Hour of Action so there’s always a dedicated 60 minutes on your calendar where you’ll write alongside other changemakers!
For families: Kids can make fun additions like stickers and drawings to letters or postcards!
For your friends – You can organize your own gathering to dedicate to letter writing (click here for support!). Wine and letter writing? Pizza and postcarding? Yes please.
For community – writing to voters is a great way to introduce people to electoral action and equip them to carry it forward. Bring some letters and envelopes to an existing gathering (picnic! Happy Hour! Potluck! dinner party! anything), and welcome folks to try their hand at filling out one or more there, on the spot, as a group activity, or to take one (or more) home to complete later.
Another impactful action is to spread the word about letter writing and postcarding.
Because of the flexible cost, quantity, and time commitment, postcarding and letter writing are often a good fit for lots of folks, and may be less intimidating to people who are reluctant to try phone banking or canvassing. Many people in our own networks may not know how approachable and impactful it is to send handwritten messages to voters. You can be the one to get them in on the action – that’s powerful!
Studies show that voters who receive a handwritten note, on letters or postcards, are much more likely to vote, which can be a game-changer in close elections. A few percentage points might seem modest, but in a close election, it could be the margin that makes the difference.
*SOURCE: Sister District research on the impact of writing to voters.