Early voting has begun in multiple states. All told, 36 states plus the District of Columbia include some way for voters to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day.
Early voting has gained momentum over the years, as more seniors and busy voters appreciate the ability to skip the lines on Election Day and vote at their convenience.
Early voting played a large role in the battleground states in 2012.
The bulk of early voting this cycle will happen in October.
Do you have your plan in place?
Let’s talk strategy.
Absentee Ballot Applications
Depending on state regulations for the application, an absentee ballot mail piece ranges in size and often includes variable data to pre-address the application for return to the appropriate local election authority.
Art and messaging need to resonate with the voter. For some, that may be a play on emotion, be it anger and frustration or fear, tied to an important issue, like national security, government spending or taxes. For others, it may be social pressure and the weight of responsibility as a member of their community.
Either way, data plays a large role in a successful absentee ballot application plan, from the initial targeting to the preparation and use of variable data.
Absentee Reactives
Once you’ve convinced voters to apply for their absentee ballot, now your attention needs to shift to persuading and motivating them to vote and vote for you.
This is where the GOTV-style absentee reactive plays a role. Typically an economical 5.5×11 oversized postcard, the absentee reactive is designed to mail on the same day as those voters’ absentee ballots to coordinate same-day delivery in their mailbox reminding voters you are the right choice and to immediately complete and mail their ballots.
Boards of Election will release lists daily of voters who have requested absentee ballots. Campaigns have the choice of addressing and stamping their reactives themselves or sending the list to us to manage.
Absentee and Early Voting GOTV
Reactives are the first stop in encouraging absentee voters to complete the process and vote.
Other tools include grassroots and volunteers who can coordinate knocking doors and calling voters who have requested their absentee ballot but not yet returned it and targeted mobile advertising that combines persuasion with motivation to return those ballots.
That’s an important note to remember. You can use that list of voters who have already voted to update your voter contact mail and paid phone lists, too.
Time is ticking.
We are less than 40 days to the election but it’s not too late to start your absentee and early voting turnout plans.
Learn More About Voter Contact Strategies:
TV vs. Mobile: Where are voters tuning in?
Get the Most Out of Mobile: 5 Answers We Need
Voter Contact Mail: 6 Red Flags to Avoid