Using Postcards for Political Action

Many voters are resorting to postcards for contacting their representatives and senators and the people in the White House. Why? Because traditional contact methods aren't working.

The Republicans in Congress are often skipping town halls (afraid to face the voters) and letting their phones go unanswered. That's where the ordinary postcard fills the gap. It's fine for a quick message and you can make it eye-catching.

You can add a return address label or sign your name if you want. That isn't really necessary. Using travel postcards from your area work well too. You can also get postage-paid blank postcards at the post office.

Get started. Speak up. Use postcards to contact your elected officials and make your voice heard.

Any postcard will do, but I'll show you how to make ones like you see above.

Cut some postcard weight cardstock into the traditional size. The maximum size is 4 1/4 by 6 inches. Don't go larger or it will require more postage.

Steps for Making Political Postcards

1) Save political memes from Facebook and social media

2) Print them onto photo paper (choose the fit to page option)

3) Use double-sided tape or glue to attach these to your postcard

4) Write your message and the address on the blank side, add the 35 cent stamp, and mail them

It's hard to get the attention of your Congress-person or the White House. Regular mail gets delayed with security checking, voice mailboxes get overloaded, and emails often get ignored. Here's where the humble postcard saves the day.

Invite some friends to join you and write postcards about your political concerns. Here's a sample wording that's being used on Facebook.

Hey Friends, I just invited all of my neighbors to a political postcard party on Wednesday night. We will be writing Congressman ---- postcards about many issues we are questioning. May I encourage you to do the same with your neighbors? This is how you can make a difference. As the saying goes "The government belongs to the people who show up", so I'll see you there!!!

If you are in the ---- area on Wednesday night, feel free to stop by my home from 6:00-7:00.

Have the addresses for the White House and Senators and Representatives on a handout sheet.

Get creative and let people decorate blank postcards with political slogans and art. Rummage out some colored markers and make a list of political slogans.

Snacks and beverages are optional but why not add to the fun and bonding while you work on saving America. Cookies and tea. Wine and cheese. Whatever.

Have some plain cardstock to decorate or ask people to bring their own postcards. The minimum size acceptable for the U.S. postal service is 3 1/2 by 5 inches. The maximum size is 4 1/4 by 6 inches. Postcard stamps are 35 cents, but you can use a regular stamp if you don't have time to go to the post office.

You can even get pre-printed postcards with unique graphics from Zazzle. Just allow 2 weeks for printing and shipping.

A friend lives in a very red county in Florida. She joined an Indivisible group which is very small and they began writing postcards to voters.

She said, "We have many volunteers who for various reasons cannot canvass door to door. We had very many faithful participants who showed up for postcard writing."

Volunteer donations covered many of their expenses for postcards and stamps. They ordered some cards from the Postcards to Voters site and also used cards designed specifically for their county that they were able to order at half-price from VistaPrint.

She feels that handwritten, colorful postcards, rather than letters have a better chance of success in getting the attention of the voter.

She noted that one of the bonuses of becoming involved in Indivisible and other resistance groups locally has been 'finding' others who are like-minded. Before she
felt all alone in a red area, half afraid to speak up politically. Now she has a vastly expanded circle of friends who share her values and opinions.

As the horrible events of the current administration slog on, she believes the circle will grow to include more who feel as we do who are empowered to step forward.