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 (~200 Words before Edits):
[Your Organization] is excited to join thousands of nationwide organizations to celebrate Vote Early Day on Tuesday, October 29th.
Vote Early Day is a civic holiday created to empower Americans to share their voices by casting their ballots ahead of Election Day. It’s a chance for all of us to come together, regardless of our backgrounds or affiliations, and make our voices heard before Election Day. It’s about helping voters overcome challenges like long lines at polling places, last-minute problems, voter disinformation, and constantly changing election laws, all leading to voters having difficulties casting their ballots.
At [Your Organization], we are committed to empowering voters because [insert your specific mission or values]. This year, we are showing our commitment to our democracy by celebrating Vote Early Day by [insert details of your celebration].
[Feel free also to use this section to highlight past nonpartisan civic work and the impact it created for your community]
In 2024, we must keep up the momentum to ensure that the voices of every voter in [Your Community] are heard. 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 ~460):
On Tuesday, October 29, [Your Organization] will join thousands of nonpartisan organizations nationwide to celebrate Vote Early Day, a civic holiday created to empower Americans to share their voices by casting their ballots ahead of Election Day.
At [Your Organization], we’re passionate about encouraging registered and unregistered citizens to vote because [Insert Reasons Here]. That’s why we’re proud to be part of this nationwide effort to encourage early voting. By participating in Vote Early Day, we can [Insert Goals or Objectives Here]. That’s why on Vote Early Day (Tuesday, October 29), we’ll be [Insert Examples of Activities or Events Here]. We’re committed to making a difference in our community and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate in our democracy.
[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.
Vote Early Day is an exciting opportunity for businesses, nonprofits, election administrators, campus groups, and creatives to unite for a day of action to celebrate our democracy and help voters overcome voting barriers. By encouraging our friends and neighbors to vote early, partners help voters overcome challenges like long lines at polling places, last-minute problems, voter disinformation, and constantly changing election laws, which can lead to difficulties casting their ballots.
Created in 2020, Vote Early Day has been celebrated by over 4,853 organizations, including Patagonia, Lyft, The League of Women Voters, MTV, Snapchat, YMCA, NAACP, and numerous local organizations, reaching millions of voters in all 50 states.
During the last presidential election, which was defined by a global pandemic, Americans voted early in record-breaking numbers. Over 100 million people cast their ballots ahead of Election Day, more than the total early vote in the 2016 and 2018 elections combined. We have seen early voting increase year after year, and 2024 will provide a critical opportunity to prove we can change the culture of voting by making Election Day the last day to vote.
In 2024, we must keep up the momentum to ensure that the voices of every voter in [YOUR COMMUNITY] are heard. 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.