Action 220: Postcarding 101

Background: Sending personal, handwritten postcards has been proven effective in getting people to decide to vote. (1) Plus, postcarding is FUN, whether you do it solo or at a postcard party! If you sign up with one of the campaigns listed under RESOURCES, below, you will be provided with a script that has been “vetted” as effective, as well as a list of names and addresses which are unique to you, assuring that the pool of recipients is as broad as possible. True, the price of postcard stamps has risen dramatically over the last few years, but a sheet of 20 stamps costs only $12.20 – a very affordable way to boost turnout. You can use a quarter sheet of cardstock to make a postcard of your own design (see the image below of the cards Brooksville sent out in 2024.) Or you can buy a package of 10 pre-stamped cards for $6.90 from the post office (see RESOURCES).

Action: So, the steps are:

1. Select a campaign from the RESOURCES section below. (All other things being equal, consider selecting Field Team 6, because of the Maine focus). Enroll in the campaign. Read their literature about the importance of sending a proven script that doesn’t threaten the voter!

2. Decide if you want to go solo, or create a local group to enjoy postcarding with you. If you are creating a group, mutually decide on your date, time and location, allowing lead time to assemble all your materials: (cards, pens, stamps, script(s). If you have the bandwidth, provide cookies!

That’s it. Easy-peasy, fun, and effective!

Extra Credit:

https://cdce.umd.edu/feature/power-postcard-rocking-vote-0

RESOURCES:

Order pre-stamped postcards from USPS here:

https://store.usps.com/store/cards-envelopes/stamped-cards/postcards/_/N-ncwfb2Z1h8f8jx Check “postcards” and choose “Mallard” or “Schooner”

Order just the stamps from USPS here:

https://store.usps.com/store/stamps/postcard/_/N-16jpffz

You get the “vibrant leaves” design

Sources for postcard messages and mailing lists in Maine and key races around the country:

Field Team 6 – Postcarding — One of the options is for postcarding geared toward registering Democrats in Maine.
https://postcards.fieldteam6.org/getting_started
Postcards to Voters — The classic “write to targeted Dem voters in close races” org; lots of people host informal postcard parties using their campaigns/scripts.
https://postcardstovoters.org/
Progressive Turnout Project (PTP) – Postcards — large-scale postcard program (they send materials / run structured programs like “news boosting” postcards).
https://turnoutpac.org/postcards
Activate America – Postcards — runs recurring postcard campaigns; many local/virtual postcard events are hosted under their umbrella.
https://www.activateamerica.vote/postcards
Blue Wave Postcard Movement — big volunteer postcard operation that runs campaigns and supports group participation.
https://shop.bluewavepostcards.org/

The Brooksville postcards. A limited number is available, free of charge for pickup locally, or for the cost of mailing them to you if you live off the Blue Hill Peninsula. Send an email to elizahill8@gmail.com with POSTCARDS as the subject. Indicate which image(s) you would like, and how many of each. They will be ready April 1. The chickadee card was donated by a Ukrainian artist now living in Florida. The fun potato card is an adaptation of an historic image. The lighthouse image was donated by a Maine artist.