Letters to the Editor
We’ve heard that Americans are losing trust in elections and the media, but they still trust the information they receive from their employers and other local leaders. You can help our election process run more smoothly by encouraging your organization’s leaders to share credible election information with your colleagues and, of course, encourage your community to vote early.
We’re also encouraging partners to submit letters to the editors of their local newspapers. Some guidance can be found here, and an example of a letter and OpEd is below (please tweak the copy and use it for yourself). You could also post the letter on your organization’s LinkedIn page, along with a link to the Vote Early Day website.
Sample Letter to the Editor (~350 Words before Edits):
On Thursday, October 26, [YOUR ORGANIZATION] is joining thousands of nonpartisan organizations nationwide to celebrate Vote Early Day, a civic holiday created to empower Americans to share their voices by casting their ballot before Election Day. We hope you’ll join in, too!
This holiday was built to help people overcome barriers like long lines at polling places, last-minute problems, voter disinformation, and other challenges, which can all lead to voters having difficulties casting their ballots. When Americans are educated about their options to vote early and receive the tools to accomplish this goal, nothing can stop us from having our say.
[YOUR ORGANIZATION] is celebrating Vote Early Day because [insert your reasons here]
Examples:
- It speaks to our values of participation and inclusion.
- It provides us with an effective way to connect with voters where they are.
- We are dedicated to making sure the voices of every voter in [YOUR COMMUNITY] are heard.
- Our work could mean the difference between someone knowing how to cast a ballot early or getting left behind.
- Our work together this fall will ensure we can rise to the challenge of uplifting voters in the presidential election next year.
- Every event, post, forum, and conversation on Vote Early Day will set up our country to continue breaking early voting records.
Last year, nearly 3,000 businesses, nonprofits, campus groups, election officials, media companies, and many others came together to celebrate this civic holiday. On Vote Early Day 2022, we saw over 3,000,000 votes cast, which led to a 4.6% overall increase in the total number of Americans voting in person or by mail.
In 2023, we must keep up the momentum to ensure that the voices of every voter in [YOUR COMMUNITY] is heard. That’s why we are showing our investment in our democracy by celebrating Vote Early Day [this fall/ by (add details about the way your organization is celebrating)]
Learn more about how you can join this growing civic holiday and the steps to cast your ballot early in [YOUR COMMUNITY] at www.VoteEarlyDay.org.
Sample Opinion/Editorial (Word Count ~550):
On Thursday, October 26, [YOUR ORGANIZATION] is joining thousands of nonpartisan organizations to celebrate Vote Early Day, a civic holiday created to empower Americans to share their voices by casting their ballot before Election Day.
This holiday was built to help people overcome the barriers that often arise when Americans wait to vote until the final hours of an election. Challenges like long lines at polling places, last-minute problems, voter disinformation, and constantly changing election laws can all lead to voters having difficulties casting their ballots. When Americans are educated about their options to vote early and receive the tools to accomplish this goal, nothing can stop us from having our say.
On Vote Early Day 2022, we saw over 3,000,000 votes cast – the highest number of early ballots cast in October, according to the U.S. Elections Project. The total number of Americans voting early in person or by mail grew by 5,766,671 votes in 2022 versus the last midterm election in 2018, marking a 4.6% increase!
Last year, nearly 3,000 businesses, nonprofits, campus groups, election officials, media companies, and many others came together to celebrate Vote Early Day. National partners like Patagonia, Lyft, The League of Women Voters, MTV, Snapchat, YMCA, NAACP, and more inspired voters to avoid Election Day obstacles and share their voices by voting early. On the ground, local nonprofits, businesses, campus groups, election leaders, and libraries organized in all 50 states to increase the number of ballots cast early.
While many are already looking forward to the crucial races in the year ahead, we will not allow a year with hundreds of state elections and thousands of critical local elections to be set aside as an “off year.” Partners from all walks of life and every part of the nation will unite to engage and empower Americans to vote early.
[YOUR ORGANIZATION] is celebrating Vote Early Day because [insert your reasons here]
Examples:
- It speaks to our values of participation and inclusion.
- It provides us with an effective way to connect with voters where they are.
- We are dedicated to making sure the voices of every voter in [YOUR COMMUNITY] are heard.
- Our work could mean the difference between someone knowing how to cast a ballot early or getting left behind.
- Our work together this fall will ensure we can rise to the challenge of uplifting voters in the presidential election next year.
- Every event, post, forum, and conversation on Vote Early Day will set up our country to continue breaking early voting records.
In 2023, we must keep up the momentum to ensure that the voice of every voter in [YOUR COMMUNITY] are heard. That’s why we are showing our investment in our democracy by celebrating Vote Early Day [this fall/ by (add details about the way your organization is celebrating)]
Learn more about how you can join this growing civic holiday and the steps to cast your ballot early in [YOUR COMMUNITY] at www.VoteEarlyDay.org.