Give me your best (short) message to inspire voting

July 17, 2019 3:44 PM

For the 2018 election, we were able to do GOTV canvassing over several months prior to Election Day instead of the more common push the weekend before the election. What made it feasible to do it so far in advance was that we gave potential voters a postcard to display in their homes as a reminder of their commitment to vote, then mailed a copy of the same postcard to them just before early voting started. We're planning much the same thing for the 2020 election, but are looking for new, inspirational text for the postcard.

We'd like to use either an actual quote that is inspirational enough that someone might want to display it just because it's cool (e.g., "Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have") or something that is directly related to voting (e.g., "Voting is not only our right. It is our power"). Whatever we use will need to be short so it can fit onto a standard postcard and still be readable. Ideas?

posted by DrGail to Law & Government (13 answers total)

If you can use an idea with 'count' involved it can be for voting and the census - both in 2020...

Will try to stew the ol' noggin to come up with something....
posted by PistachioRoux at 3:47 PM on July 17, 2019

“It’s the moment you’ve waited four years for...”
posted by sallybrown at 3:48 PM on July 17, 2019 [1 favorite]

Looked up 'count quotes' and it's not a direct copy - but...

Count the days, and make the day count
posted by PistachioRoux at 3:53 PM on July 17, 2019

Your Vote = Your Voice!
posted by vespabelle at 3:54 PM on July 17, 2019 [3 favorites]

Make your needs known-VOTE!
Put your family first-VOTE!
Take your country back-VOTE
VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE!
posted by Oyéah at 5:06 PM on July 17, 2019

Decisions are made by those who show up!
posted by none of these will bring disaster at 5:34 PM on July 17, 2019 [2 favorites]

Some gave all for the right to vote.
Don’t let yours go to waste.
posted by FallibleHuman at 7:55 PM on July 17, 2019 [1 favorite]

Time Machines don't exist (yet). Future you needs you. Vote today.
posted by mundo at 7:57 PM on July 17, 2019 [1 favorite]

I'm a fan of "vote like your rights depend on it".
posted by DingoMutt at 9:00 PM on July 17, 2019 [3 favorites]

Your vote is your voice - be heard!
posted by topophilia at 10:17 PM on July 17, 2019 [1 favorite]

If it's possible to print the postcards in a district or ward specific way, I think one of the the most useful things you could do would be to print clearly the exact address of the household's polling station, the date of the election, the date of early ballot drop (if you are in a PEVL state), and a huge-ass "PLAN TO VOTE".

And if you can't, then arm your door-to-door canvassers with the location of the polling stations for each piece of turf they knock and ask them to hand-write the location somewhere on the lit as they are speaking with anyone who is home.
posted by DSime at 8:08 AM on July 18, 2019 [1 favorite]

Bush won Florida by 327 votes in 2000

(works for both sides)
posted by the Real Dan at 11:29 AM on July 18, 2019 [2 favorites]

If you want to go by what the research says works, "Remember: Your neighbors can find out if you voted" and other social pressure phrases do it. The book "Get Out The Vote" covers your exact situation.
posted by Anonymous at 9:45 AM on July 19, 2019