Peace of Mind Organizing

Helping democracy, one postcard at a time

23 August 2024

Back in 2018, I signed up to write postcards to voters to help get out the vote. I did it through Postcards to Voters, an organization that gives you the opportunity to sign up for a postcard campaign and send postcards with prescribed messages to voters whose addresses you are sent. You must mail the number of postcards you selected within five days of asking for the addresses.

Between 2018 and 2024 I’ve sent over 4,000 postcards through this organization. I pay for the postcard and for the postage for each card and of course it takes some of my time. For me, it’s a great way to help get out of the vote since I don’t have to leave the house. It also helped me practice my hand lettering skills. (Postcards don’t have to look fancy, though. In fact you’re encouraged to make sure they look grassroots so they don’t want you to get fancy!)

This summer, I switched post-card writing organizations, which has streamlined the effort for me. I’m writing postcards through the group Postcards to Swing States. I signed up for two batches of 200 cards. The organization sent me the cards and the addresses and a choice of three messages to write on the card. Each batch of 200 is for voters in a specific state (in my case it’s Pennsylvania and Georgia) and each batch is to be mailed on a specific day in October. I supply the postage and, of course, my time.

Since this is a stressful summer for me, between moving and my husband’s health challenges, I needed to make postcard writing easier. The Postcards to Swing States route has worked out well. I try to do a batch night (or every other night). I have the message memorized and I don’t have to worry about running out of postcards. (And I was smart enough to order sufficient postcard postage stamps before the rate increase last month so I know I have enough stamps.) I keep a little kit containing everything I need on a shelf on the end table so I can easily pull it out when I sit on the couch. I usually write cards while I enjoy watching TV.

If you’re looking for some way to help during this election, you have legible handwriting and you enjoy writing by hand, I encourage you to check out either of these worthy organizations (and I’m sure there are others!). For me, it’s an easy way to do my part.

Edited to add: A day after posting this, I received an email from Postcards to Swing States that they have given out all 36 million addresses for the November election. If you’re interested in writing postcards, though, Postcards to Voters has ongoing campaigns.

Tagged with: lettering, volunteering, voting

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