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RandySF

(81,110 posts)
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 07:55 AM Jun 2025

Letter Writing Campaigns Have No Impact on Turnout

Russell Berman: “In a study set to be released later today, the group behind the letter-writing effort, the nonpartisan Vote Forward, found that personal messages sent to more than 5 million occasional voters deemed at risk of staying home last fall had no effect on turnout.”

“What’s unusual is not Vote Forward’s lackluster findings, but that the group is ready to tell the world about them. Every election, a constellation of progressive organizations sells donors and volunteers on the promise that their data-driven turnout programs will deliver victory at the polls. These mobilization efforts have taken on ever-greater importance in an era of tight elections, where the presidency and majorities in Congress can hinge on just a few thousand votes.”

“Progressive groups are only too happy to brag about their wins; they’re much less likely to divulge details about their campaigns that flopped.”



https://politicalwire.com/2025/06/10/letter-writing-campaigns-have-no-impact-on-turnout/

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Letter Writing Campaigns Have No Impact on Turnout (Original Post) RandySF Jun 2025 OP
Not surprising get the red out Jun 2025 #1
I am disappointed by this Delphinus Jun 2025 #2
I wouldn't beat yourself up over it till the study is released cadoman Jun 2025 #6
I hear you Delphinus Jun 2025 #8
There's data that shows postcard to voter campaigns have much bigger impacts on smaller elections. bearsfootball516 Jun 2025 #3
Agreed. Dulcinea Jun 2025 #5
"Progressive groups are only too happy to brag about their wins..." ThreeNoSeep Jun 2025 #4
Goddard seems the laziest "journalist" displacedvermoter Jun 2025 #7
doors win elections. period. mopinko Jun 2025 #9

get the red out

(13,955 posts)
1. Not surprising
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 07:59 AM
Jun 2025

Just my personal routine, but when I go out to get my mail anything but bills etc.. doesn't make it past the recycle bin.

 

cadoman

(1,617 posts)
6. I wouldn't beat yourself up over it till the study is released
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 08:15 AM
Jun 2025

There can be a lot to the details of it. And for all we know it may be misdirection rather than honest reflection.

I know I would have appreciated such an outreach letter, but I am the kind of person who supports Democrats in every election possible, so I am not the target demographic.

Delphinus

(12,473 posts)
8. I hear you
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 12:46 PM
Jun 2025

Can't remember a time in almost 50 years of eligibility that I've not voted.

bearsfootball516

(6,681 posts)
3. There's data that shows postcard to voter campaigns have much bigger impacts on smaller elections.
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 08:03 AM
Jun 2025

In a national election, everybody is already voting anyway, so a postcard isn't going to suddenly spur someone to the polls.

It's a different case in off-year, local or special elections where the general public may not be super tuned in, and a strong postcard campaign can have an actual impact.

ThreeNoSeep

(273 posts)
4. "Progressive groups are only too happy to brag about their wins..."
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 08:07 AM
Jun 2025

Right, and conservatives don't, especially that blowhard braggart sitting in the White House. What the hell is the messaging here, and who is editing political wire's articles?

displacedvermoter

(4,129 posts)
7. Goddard seems the laziest "journalist"
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 09:13 AM
Jun 2025

out there. He seems to find other people's both sides pieces and forwards them along as a part of Political Wire, and they keep ending up finding their way here to DU.

mopinko

(73,312 posts)
9. doors win elections. period.
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 12:49 PM
Jun 2025

i once knocked on the door of a northwestern poly sci prof. interesting convo.
he’d researched this. he said- mail pieces land in the trash and phone calls piss ppl off. but doors, face to face conversations, those will win.

my guy won that election, and every 1 of my plus 1s came out. and they voted for my guy, too. know this cuz they all early voted and we got 100% of the early votes.
it can b grueling, but it’s a lot of fun. it’s good for the soul, too.

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