How does an approved writer get addresses from Slack via Abby the Bot?
To use Slack, message the word HELLO to Abby the Address Bot on our Slack channel at https://bit.ly/SlackAbby.
If you are using Slack on a laptop or desktop or on the web:
- Down the left hand side of the workspace you will see icons for Home, DMs, Activity, Later and More
- Click on More then click on Automations
- Under Automations you should see Managed by you, Templates and Apps
- Click on Apps
- It should list Abby the Address Bot as an available app
- Click on Abby the Address Bot and follow the prompts to connect
- Click on the Home icon
- If you scroll to the bottom, you should see a section titled Apps
- Click on Abby under Apps
- Tell Abby “Hello”
If you are using Slack on a phone or tablet:
- Click on the PostcardsToVoters icon in the top left
- Slack will say “Jump to…”
- Start typing Abby and then select Abby the Address Bot APP
- Slack will display a screen that says, “Message Abby”
- Tell Abby “Hello”
If you are using Slack on a laptop or desktop or on the web
Slack screen layout and menu design differs from platform to platform. Postcards to Voters is unable to provide adequate support to answer platform-specific questions. If you are having trouble with Slack, please use Abby the Address Bot via email (send an email to Request@AbbyAddresses.org and be sure you do so from the same email address you used for approval) or email us here at the Help Desk for addresses (be sure to let us know how many you want remembering they must be in the mail within 3 days of receiving them).
Thank you for writing with us!
Why does Abby mention a John Doe?
When Abby mentions a “John Doe” it means she is out of addresses. You can email the Help Desk (postcards@tonythedemocrat.org) for addresses (be sure to include the number you want remembering they must be written in 3 days) or you may check back with Abby later.
I am already an approved writer; how do I get addresses?
As an approved volunteer writer, you are able to request addresses for active campaigns using one of these three easy and convenient methods:
1. Web – Visit Abby.PostcardsToVoters.org
2. Slack – Message HELLO to Abby the Address Bot on our Slack channel here: https://bit.ly/SlackAbby
3. Email – Send an email to: Request@AbbyAddresses.org
If you decide to email Abby the Address Bot (as shown in #3 above), please make sure you do so from the same email address you used for approval.
Please note that Abby cannot fully read and understand conversational English in an email message. Therefore, the first message needs to only have the word HELLO in the body of the message with nothing else (e.g., no email signature, no signed name). The subject line is ignored. After you email Abby a message of just the word HELLO, she will reply with instructions.
***Be sure you have your stamps AND postcards BEFORE requesting addresses. All postcards must be in the mail within three days of receiving the addresses.
You may view the status of our current and past campaigns at https://postcardstovoters.org/current/
Thank you for writing with us!
How do I get started?
To get started:
Send an email to Join@TonyTheDemocrat.org. Please include your FULL name in the email.
Sign up for our newsletter here.
How do I ask for voters’ addresses?
APPROVED writers: Please click here to see how to request addresses.
NOT YET APPROVED? If you are not approved or if you cannot remember, email us at Join@TonyTheDemocrat.org and include your full name.
How do I become an “Approved” writer?
A new volunteer writer becomes an “Approved” writer, once the photo of their sample card has been received via email, reviewed, and accepted by the Help Desk.
To get started, please send an email to Join@TonyTheDemocrat.org and include your full name. We will send you the information you need to create your sample postcard.
How do I send you a picture?
Sending a picture is easy! If you have a smartphone, the easiest way is to take a photo of the card, and email it to us at Postcards@TonyTheDemocrat.org. Or, you can scan it and email it to us.
Need some help on how to email a photo from a phone? No worries, we’ve got you covered! Check out this link: https://www.wikihow.com/Email-Pictures-from-a-Cell-Phone
Where may we order postcards?
Many volunteers ask us where they may find postcards. Others want to print their own. The resources compiled here and the accompanying links were submitted by volunteers and researched by our own team. Please report links which may be out of date. Share any new resources we may not have included. Thanks for building a community with helpful tips like these!
- Postcards To Voters Etsy Shop – Sold in sets of 100, more than a dozen volunteer-designed postcards will help your message get noticed.
- Mix and Match Designs – Over a hundred designs which can be mixed together for quantities as few as 8 printed on demand.
- Postcard Rate Postage Stamps – Order securely from the USPS and save a trip to the Post Office.
- You can also order USPS postcards with postage printed on them from USPS online.
How can I print my own postcards?
Option 1: Use one of our shared templates. They generally print 4 to a 8.5×11 page. Then cut.
Option 2: Download one of our templates and upload/take it to a print shop (Vistaprint, Staples, The UPS Store, FedEx Office, etc.) Check out this Google Search for “Postcard Printing”. Many of these services do other sizes besides 4 to a page.
Also check out the Avery Postcard Template web site.
Where can I find postcard stamps or plain postcards with stamps printed on them?
- You can order Pre-Stamped Postcards or Postcard Stamps online from USPS.com
- While there are some individuals and businesses selling mint condition or unused so-called vintage and even contemporary Forever rate postage stamps, Postcards to Voters does not recommend, refer, warranty, or otherwise endorse any seller of postage besides the United States Postal Service at their Post Offices, authorized retail partners, or their online website USPS.com. If you notice any postage seller using our name and/or logo in connection with their sales, please let us know. We have no association with any postage seller and have never had a business arrangement with any postage seller.
Is there a resource list for purchasing creative postcards?
YES! Click here
What are the USPS size and thickness parameters for postcards?
For details, see the USPS website.
To qualify for mailing at the First-Class Mail postcard price, it must be: Rectangular, At least 3-1/2 inches high x 5 inches long x 0.007 inch thick, and no more than 4-1/4 inches high x 6 inches long x 0.016 inches thick. As a guide, most index cards are thick enough. Make sure your mail piece meets the minimum thickness requirement. Thin, flimsy pieces tend to get caught in mail processing equipment. If your mail piece gets damaged in the equipment, then your message doesn’t reach your voters.
For standard postcards: Must be rectangular. Maximum size: 6 inches long by 4-1/4 inches high by .016 inch thick. These cost $0.56 to mail (postcard stamp)
For large postcards: Maximum size: 11-1/2 inches long by 6-1/8 inches high by 1/4 inch thick. These cost $0.73 to mail (same as regular first class mail)
You can mail odd-shaped cards, but we suggest you confirm postage requirements with the post office before investing a lot of time in creating and addressing these.
USPS Resources:
USPS Homepage
Features and Pricing
Sizes for Postcards
What are the postal restrictions for decorations? Stickers? Glitter? Fabric?
USPS Website: Sizes for Postcards
Anything that makes the postcard not “flat,” makes it harder for post office processing and should not be used. Flat stickers should be fine.
What do I write on a postcard? Is all the information I need provided?
When you request addresses from Postcards to Voters, we provide the required talking points and addresses; each writer provides their own postcards and stamps. The required talking points come directly from the campaign and they may not be modified. If space permits on your postcard, you may add comments from the list of optional message items that we provide for you.
I see a lot of postcards that deviate from the talking points to a greater or lesser degree. What is permissible and what isn’t?
All writers must please stick to the three required talking points. You can paraphrase, make it your own, but please do not change the meaning or the facts. In addition, please do not embellish with information that is not in the talking points.
Do I sign my name?
Only sign your first name or initials. Never include return address, your own email address, your last name, or your social media handle or account name. To do so is a security risk.
To whom do I address the card?
Since we do not provide the voters’ names, please pick one of these salutations or something similarly neutral (they are in alphabetical order):
- Awesome Voter
- Best Voter Ever
- Essential Voter
- Esteemed Voter
- Freedom Voter
- Important Voter
- Patriotic Voter
- Serious Voter
- Super Voter
- Terrific Voter
- Valued Voter
- VIP Voter
- Winning Voter
Is it good to say “Hello from Cincinnati” or wherever you’re writing from, or is this more likely to make them bristle and perceive it as outsiders trying to influence their election?
Yes, your greeting can be whatever you would like it to be. Feedback from voters who have received our postcards shows they appreciate the effort by others who care about their election. After all, we are ALL Americans.
I’m not very artistic. Is it worth it for me to just write boring (but informative) postcards?
Yes! You can be as creative or as boring as you want, as long as the required information is there.
Can I pre-write postcards to save time?
We ask that you do not write postcards in advance without the voter addresses already having been assigned to you, as we may run out of addresses by the time you request more. Your supplies, postage, and time are valuable to our cause, and we don’t want them to go to waste!
Do I need to let you know when I have successfully completed and mailed my list?
Once you become an APPROVED writer, we do not require you to let us know when you have completed and mailed the list. All we ask is that you mail your postcards within 3 days of receiving the addresses. Note that we have a 3-day deadline for all of our campaigns.
What are some tips on hosting a postcard party?
Note: Postcard party organizers must be approved writers with us. First-time organizers may be asked to be available by phone so that we can assess how best to support them in a successful event. Once this has been completed, their volunteer record will be updated to show they are allowed to request larger quantities of addresses for their events.
We also suggest that you write a few batches of postcards on your own before hosting a party.
The biggest objective of hosting a postcard party is to write a lot of postcards. Anything you can do to make it easy for people will help.
- Please request your addresses 2 days prior to the scheduled party date, by either emailing us at postcards@TonyTheDemocrat.org or by Clicking Here
- Urge your party writers to become approved writers themselves, by emailing us a photo of one of their postcards from the party to postcards@TonyTheDemocrat.org
We suggest you select a location with plenty of room for people to write (either at home or out in public is fine). If you’re arranging an event in a restaurant, we suggest you check with the manager first to make sure they don’t mind that you bring a group.
- Provide as many of the tools to make actually writing the cards easy: postcards, pens (lots of colors makes it extra fun!), stamps (it’s totally reasonable to ask people to contribute to the cost of the stamps), addresses, talking points, etc. Extra copies really help, so there are plenty to go around. You can divide addresses onto separate pages so everyone can get their own page (just remember to have them mark off the ones they’ve written to avoid duplicates).
- Snacks and drinks really help. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but postcard writing can be hard work. A bowl of mini chocolate bars or cookies, and even water somehow help reduce the stress level. If you’re meeting at a restaurant, ask people to buy something to support the business.
- Wine, or other adult beverages may help as well, in moderation of course. You don’t want your hard work to look like your drunk fraternity sister wrote it.
- Be sure to review the cards the people write to make sure they follow the rules.
- And then don’t forget to mail the cards promptly!
Volunteer Sharon J. gave us some useful tips on how to organize postcard parties and created address sheets for her party writers. Please click below for the .doc files Sharon created
Who are we writing to?
We only write to Democratic voters.
Why do you mail the postcards so early? In our modern, hectic world aren’t you afraid people will forget?
The postcards create buzz when they arrive! They are conversation starters. This “guerrilla marketing” works and the more time people have to talk to each other and share their postcards, the more ripples are created.
One of the strengths our postcarding model provides is the simplicity of writing and mailing immediately instead of different timings for different candidates. It can become confusing to the thousands of different people writing and extended groups from postcard parties if each candidate might have different mailing instructions. We always operate on the “write and mail within 3 days of assignment” model. Managing such a large network of distributed volunteers, you come to appreciate how fragile the whole thing is if you tinker with the wrong elements. It’s like a real-life 20-story tall Jenga tower!
Any volunteer who wishes to mail their cards closer to an election date can delay their request for addresses. However, there is always a chance we might run out of addresses for a particular candidate. But, we appreciate everyone following the tried and true practice we’ve exercised for over 200+ campaigns since March 2017.
How are candidates chosen that postcards are written for?
There is quite a bit more that goes into our candidate choices than random selection. But, even through 200+ announced postcard campaigns, there is still a lot of variability that goes into it.
Timing matters. If we are not otherwise committed, it can be a matter of chance. A “small” local campaign with a deserving progressive can (and has) lucked out and been able to join our program because of good timing.
We look at the pros and cons. When faced with two or more great choices, Tony has to fairly weigh multiple factors. Can we write the number of cards needed to reasonably influence the election across a tipping point? Since postcards are just one component of the whole GOTV program, how capable do they seem of executing a strong ground game? Are there any restrictions or demands being made that could impact volunteer interest? These are just a few considerations to stack up.
Each candidate represents a different opportunity. Their background, qualifications, what they bring to the campaign, special communities and constituencies they represent, the office being sought, the state they’re in, and so on. It is impossible to create a one-size-fits-all formula. With 25+ years of campaign involvement and activism, grassroots organizing and business process management, Tony tries to make the right choices. He also takes the responsibility seriously to engage the most deserving and meaningful campaigns for you when we have available capacity.
How does Postcard to Voters get their address lists?
It depends on the contest, the campaign, and the circumstances. Voter registration data is available upon request from every U.S. state elections authority as well as from every U.S. county that administers elections. This data is what Democratic state and county parties use to cultivate their databases. These databases are then made available to Democratic campaigns.
Postcards to Voters uses voter registration data that is originally created, maintained, updated, and furnished by the state and county elections authorities. Sometimes, the data comes directly from them. Sometimes, it comes from a state or county Democratic party or a campaign committee. But, in most every case with fewer than a handful of exceptions, it comes directly from the campaign.
Is there any evidence to indicate that mail-based campaigns make a real difference at the ballot box?
Yes! Political scientists have conducted dozens of experiments on the effect of direct mail and find that, on average, mailers increase turnout when they use “messages that emphasize civic duty or the importance of making one’s voice heard” (see Get Out the Vote: How to Increase Voter Turnout by Donald Gerber and Alan Green, 2015, pg. 58). Additional evidence also shows that making the interaction feel personalized, rather than just a blanket message from an organization, is key to increasing the effectiveness of voter outreach.
Will we be writing for candidate So-and-So?
We do not announce our campaign line-up in advance. It is a distraction that can adversely impact postcard-writing production for other candidates earlier on the calendar. It is a competitive disadvantage for the campaign to let the opposition know so early about such a specific GOTV plan. Conditions change frequently with campaigns meaning a “no” one week can turn into a “yes” another week and vice versa. If we are finding “obscure” city council and school board elections, we most certainly know about the campaigns that are on the national radar.
It does not help our relationship with a campaign where we might be hoping they will eventually consider working with us to tell volunteers that the campaign has said “no” to us. From past experience, setting loose a bunch of angry, upset, confused, and/or pleading volunteers onto a campaign more concerned with conventional GOTV tactics is not a good way to make friends for Postcards To Voters. These campaign staffers move on to other campaigns in the future. If they have a bad experience with us just during the pitch and consideration phase, we will likely have lost them forever.
So, we don’t confirm or deny any future candidate/campaign lineups. We ask for your patient understanding for all the reasons explained. And we hope we have earned your trust in our process and candidate selection. Rule of thumb: If you heard about the candidate on MSNBC, we have already heard about it and have approached the campaign with a proposal.
What is a bot?
A bot (short for robot) is a software application that runs automated tasks (scripts) over the Internet.
What, or who, is Abby the Address Bot?
Abby the Address Bot is a combination of services from Amazon Web Services that allows approved writers to get addresses via email or through our Slack channel. A bot (short for robot) is a software application that runs automated tasks (scripts) over the Internet.
How do I use Abby the Address Bot?
Approved writers may access Abby the Bot to request addresses in one of the following three ways:
If you email Abby the Address Bot (as shown in #3 above) please be sure to do so from the same email address you used to become an approved writer.
Please note that Abby cannot fully read and understand conversational English in an email message. Therefore, the first message needs to only have the word HELLO in the body of the message with nothing else (e.g., no email signature, no signed name). The subject line is ignored. After you email Abby a message of just the word HELLO, she will reply with instructions.
***Be sure you have your stamps AND postcards BEFORE requesting addresses. All postcards must be in the mail within three days of receiving the addresses.
Once you have been approved as a writer, you will be able to ask Abby for addresses for any active campaign of your choice.
Thank you for writing with us!
What is a .txt file and how do I open it?
A .txt file is a text file that can usually be opened by all smart phones and computers by clicking on the link. Abby uses text files for the instructions and addresses because the message is so long.
Why is Abby taking so long to send me addresses?
Over 99% of the time, Abby will respond to you in less than one second.
There have been times in the past when Abby was undergoing a change or was overwhelmed with requests. We are working to minimize these so that the user experience is top notch.
HELP! I need to change my email address with Abby.
To change your email address with Abby, please email us at Postcards@TonyTheDemocrat.org from your APPROVED email address letting us know you wish to change your default email address and include your new email address.
I’m going to an event and would like to set-up a booth for Postcards to Voters. What supplies do I need and what do I do?
Volunteer Geri W. created this nifty little guide for event booth planning =)
Why don’t I hear from you all as much via email?
Email was a wonderful way to reach out in our early days. But, the open rate of our emails began declining to where only 1 out of 5 of you were ever actually opening the emails. Given the amount of time it takes to format the email messages to look nice and to test the links and proofread the copy, it seemed to be an inefficient way of getting the word out.
We do still send emails and you may sign up here. Be sure to find the last email from us and add us to your Safe Senders list and to your address book so that your email service provider doesn’t mark our emails as spam.
We now have a growing Facebook and Twitter following so check us out there too!
What do I do if I am unable to finish some or all of a list I received?
If you need to return a list, forward the email with the assigned addresses to us at Postcards@TonyTheDemocrat.org.
If you were unable to write any of the addresses, let us know that the full list needs to be returned. Or, tell us which addresses you were able to write and which addresses you want to return.
We will update the system to reflect the status and reassign any unwritten addresses.
Do you have a way to locate nearby postcard parties or groups?
No, not yet. But, it is on our list for future website enhancements.
I know a local campaign. How do they get in touch with you?
We have a simple interest form on our website to complete: www.PostcardsToVoters.org/Campaigns
I don’t see the candidate name I’m looking for on Abby’s menu. Why not?
If Abby no longer lists a particular campaign, that means we have assigned the very last address for it.
For a list of current campaigns, please click here: https://postcardstovoters.org/current/
How do I get voter addresses from you for a specific campaign you’re not doing?
Unfortunately, if it’s not a campaign we are doing, we are unable to give you voter addresses for it.
Can I stockpile pre-written postcards in preparation for the upcoming elections?
No. Our program is successful in part because of the “just in time” writing and mailing approach for 5 to 15 or so postcards per volunteer. With nearly 75,000 volunteers (and growing), we are uniquely positioned to write tens of thousands of cards quickly without complicated logistics if the cards were stockpiled. Therefore, all of our campaigns require that postcards be placed in the mail within three (3) days of receiving the addresses.
If you need to return a list, forward the complete email with all of the assigned addresses to us at Postcards@TonyTheDemocrat.org. Partial lists cannot be returned so if you are not sure how many addresses you can complete within our 3-day deadline, ask for small batches (e.g., 5-15 addresses at a time). You can always get more!
Abby just gave me addresses for a deadline 3 days from now. Can you give me a campaign with more time to write?
Our writing and mailing deadline is, and has always been, three (3) days from the day you receive your addresses.
We therefore ask you to only request as many addresses as you have time and supplies to write and mail within three (3) days.
If you do not have time or supplies to write within three (3) days, please wait to request addresses until you do. Or, reduce the number of addresses, to as few as four (4) if need be, that you know you can write and mail within three (3) days.
Did you see that _______ won their primary last night?! Wow!! Will we be writing postcards for them?
Thanks for sharing this news and for your question.
We don’t announce campaigns in advance to maintain a competitive advantage and to prevent the opposition from having time to plan countermeasures. When a campaign is ready, we launch and announce it at the same time—never earlier.
Thank you for sharing the enthusiasm of the candidate’s big win and for your patient understanding.
In the meantime, feel free to give campaigns a gentle nudge if you think they may not have heard about us.
We have a simple interest form on our website that they may complete: www.PostcardsToVoters.org/Campaigns
Look at this article about ____. Will we be writing for them? Or, I really like ____ and want to know if we can write for them?
Postcards to Voters does not comment on our future campaign lineup in order to afford our supported candidates a competitive advantage over their opponents for as long as possible.
I work/volunteer for ___ and would like you to add them to your list of supported campaigns.
If you have a campaign you would like us to consider, we have a simple interest form on our website to complete: www.PostcardsToVoters.org/Campaigns
I signed up with you to write and never heard back – OR – I emailed you my sample postcard and you haven’t approved me.
Did you check your spam folder?
Also, if you use Gmail, they often “helpfully” organize our emails into the Promotions tab instead of into the Inbox tab. Please check there. If you still cannot find it, email us directly at Postcards@TonyTheDemocrat.org
Please send me addresses for voters where I live – OR – I have 10 postcards that I want to write for ____ in ____.
Postcards to Voters cannot fulfill individualized, custom address requests for campaigns that are not currently active ones for us.
Postcards to Voters works when all of our thousands of volunteers write to Democratic voters in one election at a time. By pooling all of our writing power to send fun, friendly election reminders to every single Democratic voter, we have been able to move the needle and boost winning turnout again and again!
You may view a list of our current campaigns here.
Can I use your Be a Voter postcards for other campaigns?
Of course you can! Once you buy them, you can use them however you wish.
Thank you for supporting Postcards to Voters!
I want addresses for ____, but Abby doesn’t have that option listed anymore.
This means that thanks to wonderful volunteers, like you, we have assigned all of the voter addresses for that campaign.
For a list of current campaigns, please click here: https://postcardstovoters.org/current/
I wrote some additional postcards for a campaign which is no longer available to me. Can you send me some more addresses so that I may address these cards and not waste them?
We really appreciate your enthusiasm. However, when we assign all of the addresses for a campaign, there are none being held in reserve. Please do not write messages on postcards without having the addresses. We don’t want you to waste any of your cards!
How do I request addresses from Abby using Slack?
First, sign up for Slack by clicking the following: https://bit.ly/34gozjt
If you are using Slack on a phone or tablet
- Click on the PostcardsToVoters icon in the top left
- Slack will say “Jump to…”
- Start typing Abby and then select Abby the Address Bot APP
- Slack will display a screen that says, “Message Abby”
- Tell Abby “Hello”
If you are using Slack on a laptop or desktop or on the web
- Click on PostcardsToVoters in the top left and select Preferences
- Then click on Sidebar
- Make sure that Apps is selected
- Exit out of that
- Click on Apps in left sidebar
- Select Abby the Address Bot
- Tell Abby “Hello”
How do I request addresses from Abby using Email?
Abby can now give addresses via email!
- Type HELLO in the email body (you may leave the Subject Line empty, as Abby has been trained to ignore it; do not include any other text in the body of the message)
- Send email to Abby at Request@AbbyAddresses.org
- Wait for her response email, which will include instructions on how to form your request in the proper structure.
- For example: Please send me [Insert number of addresses here] addresses for [Insert Candidate Name Here] in [Insert State]. (i.e. Please send me 10 addresses for Jon Ossoff in GA)
Notes:
- No phone number is needed for you to email Abby.
- Be sure you are emailing Abby from your APPROVED email address.