# Experiences with voter outreach: is it worth it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 7, 2024, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-voter-outreach-is-it-worth-it/1006930 "2024-09-07T23:06:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-voter-outreach-is-it-worth-it/1006930/21 "2024-09-08T15:50:23Z")
> [@bobsmom101](#): > > I cycled down to the Dem HQ and picked up a bunch of bumper stickers and yard signs. I’m not trying to be obnoxious, but I hope some of the other closeted lefties in town will also start to stand up against the Trump displays. Yesterday I saw one obnoxious trump sign in a yard and then 2 Harris signs beside the place! I beeped my car horn while passing by. I live in rural red PA so that was awesome to behold. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-voter-outreach-is-it-worth-it/1006930/22 "2024-09-08T15:55:20Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > As I mentioned, the post cards and letters are sent to people in the battleground states. When I first started doing postcards 4 years ago, I was told that the names were not only swing state voters, but voters who only voted sporadically. Idk if that’s still the case. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-voter-outreach-is-it-worth-it/1006930/23 "2024-09-08T16:08:24Z")
My wife confirms that the cards are going to Dems and independents who have only voted sporadically. I don’t remember if she had mentioned that point to me before. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-voter-outreach-is-it-worth-it/1006930/24 "2024-09-08T16:13:48Z")
Here are the 500 postcards. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOQNYK8GNNbfPL8h9bcKYV4PgkOdT-9zfba6unQY4hC3DT8PmiImqp0R4c8ktUaThVvp7aZxdJpxfxuAFjMd0UZBd_YPXdpu8zVz5pRG6Hb3ZCnILs3=w600-h315-p-k "New item by James Hyder") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/rDNEP2cwCt9QhVGf9) Click to see the full image. ---
**Author:** ![illoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a3d4f5/32.png) [@illoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/illoe)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-voter-outreach-is-it-worth-it/1006930/25 "2024-09-08T16:23:17Z")
Impressive!! I’d believe they’re more effective than just standard mailings. I still sometimes get briefly suckered by some of the script fonts on bulk mail, and these would have me studying letters to see if I could tell whether it was hand-written. Anyway, I hope they work, because it does feel urgent to do something. I did feel pretty happy when two undecideds I spoke with said they now intended to vote and when a Republican said she was already voting straight D. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-voter-outreach-is-it-worth-it/1006930/26 "2024-09-08T19:34:38Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > QQ for those doing these activities (and thank you, BTW) - are the phone calls and postcards directed to voters in swing states? Or just to voters locally or in your state? The text banking I do is very much directed at swing states, though not exclusively. Sometimes it’s directed at swingy local races. The organization I work with tries to track outcomes. I think my efforts do _something_ because enough people are semi-engaged with the political process enough to work with me in finding their polling place. Some text back, “Right on, thanks for the reminder!”, which gives me a charge but they were probably going to vote anyway. Others are more abusive which IMHO is totally understandable: this is an intrusive exercise which I only do during election season when one of the two candidates/parties opposes democracy. Let’s hope that will change and in ~?~2030 I’ll have a ethical challenge to resolve. The texting occurs via my desktop, not my phone (though there are apps for phones and tablets). 2020 summary of text banking research by the Sister District Project: > **[Textbanking-Research.pdf](https://sisterdistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Textbanking-Research.pdf)** > > 205.64 KB [I’ll note that “Cons” can be addressed via multiple sponsoring organizations] A piece of 2018 research indicates that texting costs about $90 per vote. [https://www.vote.org/research/](https://www.vote.org/research/) ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-voter-outreach-is-it-worth-it/1006930/27 "2024-09-25T17:56:23Z")
Is it worth it? Well it’s more effective than doomscrolling I say. Matt Yglassias: > My strong sense, though, is that too many not-at-all-indifferent people are spending time and psychic energy on things like “feeling stressed about the election” and “arguing with the biggest shithead on Twitter.” > If these things are genuinely bringing you joy in life, then by all means, carry on. But they probably aren’t, and they’re certainly not the most constructive things you can do with your time. > If you’re nervous about the election and the future of the country _do something about it_ . Talk to undecided voters you have a personal connection, and tell them something you think they may not have already heard that is relevant to their lives. Give money to the candidates who are most likely to benefit from your money. Talk to people you know who already have their minds made up about how _they_ can be more effective and more strategic with their own communications and giving. No one of us can single-handedly determine the future of the country. But we all have a good deal of agency, and almost everyone feels better in the medium term if they take concrete action, even if worrying or emoting seems more satisfactory in the short term. Cite: [The candidates who need your money the most](https://www.slowboring.com/p/the-candidates-who-need-your-money) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-voter-outreach-is-it-worth-it/1006930.md?page=1)