Introduction
There is a lot at stake in the 2020 election, both right here in our state and in our country. Despite the US Supreme Court's unwillingness to rule on NC's partisan gerrymandering (more here) NC voters scored a victory in Sept. 2019. An NC court ruled that existing district maps "do not permit voters to freely choose their representative, but rather representatives are choosing voters based upon sophisticated partisan sorting." (More here.) Having new and fair district maps for the 2020 elections is a big move in the right direction and we still need to get out the vote (GOTV) for progressive values.
SNCB PAC and Stamp NC Blue are looking for dedicated volunteers to support our postcard campaign to get out the vote in NC leading up to the 2020 election!
We did amazing work in 2018: sending over 35,000 postcards to more than 16,000 registered NC voters with a network of 500+ volunteers across our state (and some in other states)!
Our plan for 2020 is to reach 15,000 NC voters with postcards sent at three key stages for the 2020 election. Stage 1 is already underway!
There is a lot at stake in the 2020 election, both right here in our state and in our country. Despite the US Supreme Court's unwillingness to rule on NC's partisan gerrymandering (more here) NC voters scored a victory in Sept. 2019. An NC court ruled that existing district maps "do not permit voters to freely choose their representative, but rather representatives are choosing voters based upon sophisticated partisan sorting." (More here.) Having new and fair district maps for the 2020 elections is a big move in the right direction and we still need to get out the vote (GOTV) for progressive values.
SNCB PAC and Stamp NC Blue are looking for dedicated volunteers to support our postcard campaign to get out the vote in NC leading up to the 2020 election!
We did amazing work in 2018: sending over 35,000 postcards to more than 16,000 registered NC voters with a network of 500+ volunteers across our state (and some in other states)!
Our plan for 2020 is to reach 15,000 NC voters with postcards sent at three key stages for the 2020 election. Stage 1 is already underway!
The Postcards, Messages, and Timing:
Stage 1 (COMPLETED!): postcards available in September 2019 with a "must mail by" date in late September. The focus is on the requirements of voter photo ID, with the goal of ensuring that people who need to get or update their eligible photo ID have the info they need and plenty of time to take care of it before the March 2020 primary.
Stage 1 (COMPLETED!): postcards available in September 2019 with a "must mail by" date in late September. The focus is on the requirements of voter photo ID, with the goal of ensuring that people who need to get or update their eligible photo ID have the info they need and plenty of time to take care of it before the March 2020 primary.
sample postcard
Stage 2: (COMPLETED!) postcards available in January 2020 with a "must mail by" date in February 2020. The focus will be on getting out the vote for the upcoming Super Tuesday Primary on March 3, 2020.
Stage 3: postcards available in September 2020 with a "must mail by" date in October 2020. The focus will be about getting out the vote for the General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. This postcard *may* also endorse specific candidates/issues (tbd).
Join Us!
Stage 3 is closed but if you're interested in writing postcards and haven't joined a team, you can email info@stampncblue.org Subject: Waitlist to be on the waiting list.
Your commitment when joining us for Stage 3:
- SNCB-PAC Team Captain will mail you a pack of 10 pre-addressed postcards, postcard stamps, and suggested talking points.
- You are responsible for ensuring each postcard gets the necessary handwritten message and is mailed. How you make this happen is up to you! You can write them all yourself, divvy them up with friends & neighbors, host a zoom postcard party, etc. -- whatever is right for you!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who is Stamp NC Blue?
We are a scrappy crew of blue unicorns who love the democratic process and are committed to getting out the vote for 2020.
What is Stamp NC Blue?
Stamp NC Blue is an affiliate of SNCB PAC.
What is SNCB PAC?
SNCB PAC is a North Carolina Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee made up of concerned citizens in the state of North Carolina interested in progressive reform. Contributions are not tax-deductible and are subject to the North Carolina Board of Elections reporting requirements. SNCB PAC’s EIN is 83-1243406. SNCB PAC is not authorized by, financed by, or affiliated with any candidate or campaign.
Who/what is SNCB?
For simplicity’s sake, we are using the nickname SNCB to refer to SNCB PAC and Stamp NC Blue in this FAQ section.
What will be the exact timing of the postcard efforts?
Stage 1 & 2 is complete! We are working on postcards to be sent early October 2020 (Stage 3).
What will the message/point of our postcards be?
For Stage 1: info on voter photo ID requirements, Stage 2: general get out the vote for the primary, Stage 3: vote progressive/blue (maybe with specific candidates named, tbd).
Who will the postcards be going to?
Registered NC voters within target demographic groups where our postcards had the greatest impact in 2018. All postcard recipients will be either registered Democrats or progressive-leaning unaffiliated/independent voters.
Will my postcard packs be for the exact same 100 people all three Stages?
Probably not. As we move from Stage 1 to 2 and 2 to 3, we’ll likely pull out as many “undeliverable” addresses as we can (found out via “return to sender” mail) and fill in new names as we’re able. For this reason, as well as general logistics and the sanity of our management team, we won’t be able to ensure you get the same people in each Stage.
I picked up my postcard packs last time, can I do that again this time?
No - we’re not offering local pickups this time. Both logistics and the sanity of our management team require a “one size fits most” solution, so all postcard packs will go out to Captains via USPS mail.
I’d rather purchase my own stamps, can I do that?
No - both logistics and the sanity of our management team require a “one size fits most” solution, so all postcard packs will be identical (100 pre-addressed postcards with stamps).
I’d rather create my own postcards, can I do that?
No - there are logistics and liability reasons why we’re providing the postcards rather than asking you to create your own. There are other “create your own” postcards to voters efforts, and we completely understand if that’s a better fit for you.
I can’t afford to pay to participate, is there another option?
Unfortunately, no. Captains who are joining us for just Stages 2 and 3 need to pay the full $100 upfront. We understand that the financial requirements to participate may be a barrier for some people. The reality of this type of effort is - there are actual costs involved and every penny we are asking for goes to cover the costs of printing and addressing the postcards, buying the postcard stamps, and mailing out the packs to Captains. There will be no remaining profit to cover the costs for people who can’t afford to pay. All of us are volunteers, and we all pitch in (with time and money) to make this a success!
Who needs to make a financial contribution and how can they do it?
Fundraising is now closed as of 8/8/2020.
I have a different question about contributions, who can I talk to?
Please contact us at info@stampncblue.org or (919) 213-9970 (voice only) to confirm all the details.
Why is this so much more expensive than it was in 2018?
We totally see how it seems that way but the truth is - our cost per postcard sent is actually slightly lower than it was in 2018. The difference is in how we’re raising the money to cover it. In our 2018 effort, we asked each individual postcard writer to contribute at least $25. Most teams had 10 people on them and we tried to raise at least $200 per team. We’re recruiting Captains rather than individual writers this time around. Since Captains have more flexibility in how they get the postcards written for our 2019-2020 effort, we can’t rely on teams to raise a certain amount.
Why do some of my SNCB postcards have out-of-state addresses?
Each of our voter contacts is a registered NC voter (and to be a registered NC voter, you have to be a resident of NC). Out-of-state mailing addresses most typically indicate someone who summers (or winters) in another place and prefers to receive their mail there (most likely for our voter contacts) or a student attending school out-of-state (less likely for our voter contacts).
I've heard that postcards aren't the most effective get out the vote (GOTV) tactic, why are you doing postcards?
I have another project/campaign idea for Stamp NC Blue, who can I tell it to?
We are fully committed to this project and aren’t able to consider others - regardless of how great or worthy or time-sensitive they are. However, we’re happy to give you a quick tutorial on how we’ve organized our efforts so you can consider launching your project/campaign yourself!
I’d like to join the management team, how do I do that?
Yay! Start by emailing info@stampncblue.org and put “Volunteer for Management Team” in the subject. Thank you!
I have a different question.
Great - email us at info@stampncblue.org.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ONLY RELEVANT FOR CAPTAINS COMMITTED TO ALL THREE STAGES:
My team is making contributions. How will I know if/when they reach $100?
SNCB isn’t tallying these until a Captain asks us to double-check. Captains should request their team members to confirm with them directly that they’ve made their contribution and how much it was. Once the Captain has reports indicating they’ve hit or passed $100, the Captain should email SNCB at info@stampncblue.org with names & amounts, we’ll confirm the total contribution from the team.
I want to collect contributions in-person for my team and send them in. How do I do this?
Who is Stamp NC Blue?
We are a scrappy crew of blue unicorns who love the democratic process and are committed to getting out the vote for 2020.
What is Stamp NC Blue?
Stamp NC Blue is an affiliate of SNCB PAC.
What is SNCB PAC?
SNCB PAC is a North Carolina Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee made up of concerned citizens in the state of North Carolina interested in progressive reform. Contributions are not tax-deductible and are subject to the North Carolina Board of Elections reporting requirements. SNCB PAC’s EIN is 83-1243406. SNCB PAC is not authorized by, financed by, or affiliated with any candidate or campaign.
Who/what is SNCB?
For simplicity’s sake, we are using the nickname SNCB to refer to SNCB PAC and Stamp NC Blue in this FAQ section.
What will be the exact timing of the postcard efforts?
Stage 1 & 2 is complete! We are working on postcards to be sent early October 2020 (Stage 3).
What will the message/point of our postcards be?
For Stage 1: info on voter photo ID requirements, Stage 2: general get out the vote for the primary, Stage 3: vote progressive/blue (maybe with specific candidates named, tbd).
Who will the postcards be going to?
Registered NC voters within target demographic groups where our postcards had the greatest impact in 2018. All postcard recipients will be either registered Democrats or progressive-leaning unaffiliated/independent voters.
Will my postcard packs be for the exact same 100 people all three Stages?
Probably not. As we move from Stage 1 to 2 and 2 to 3, we’ll likely pull out as many “undeliverable” addresses as we can (found out via “return to sender” mail) and fill in new names as we’re able. For this reason, as well as general logistics and the sanity of our management team, we won’t be able to ensure you get the same people in each Stage.
I picked up my postcard packs last time, can I do that again this time?
No - we’re not offering local pickups this time. Both logistics and the sanity of our management team require a “one size fits most” solution, so all postcard packs will go out to Captains via USPS mail.
I’d rather purchase my own stamps, can I do that?
No - both logistics and the sanity of our management team require a “one size fits most” solution, so all postcard packs will be identical (100 pre-addressed postcards with stamps).
I’d rather create my own postcards, can I do that?
No - there are logistics and liability reasons why we’re providing the postcards rather than asking you to create your own. There are other “create your own” postcards to voters efforts, and we completely understand if that’s a better fit for you.
I can’t afford to pay to participate, is there another option?
Unfortunately, no. Captains who are joining us for just Stages 2 and 3 need to pay the full $100 upfront. We understand that the financial requirements to participate may be a barrier for some people. The reality of this type of effort is - there are actual costs involved and every penny we are asking for goes to cover the costs of printing and addressing the postcards, buying the postcard stamps, and mailing out the packs to Captains. There will be no remaining profit to cover the costs for people who can’t afford to pay. All of us are volunteers, and we all pitch in (with time and money) to make this a success!
Who needs to make a financial contribution and how can they do it?
Fundraising is now closed as of 8/8/2020.
I have a different question about contributions, who can I talk to?
Please contact us at info@stampncblue.org or (919) 213-9970 (voice only) to confirm all the details.
Why is this so much more expensive than it was in 2018?
We totally see how it seems that way but the truth is - our cost per postcard sent is actually slightly lower than it was in 2018. The difference is in how we’re raising the money to cover it. In our 2018 effort, we asked each individual postcard writer to contribute at least $25. Most teams had 10 people on them and we tried to raise at least $200 per team. We’re recruiting Captains rather than individual writers this time around. Since Captains have more flexibility in how they get the postcards written for our 2019-2020 effort, we can’t rely on teams to raise a certain amount.
Why do some of my SNCB postcards have out-of-state addresses?
Each of our voter contacts is a registered NC voter (and to be a registered NC voter, you have to be a resident of NC). Out-of-state mailing addresses most typically indicate someone who summers (or winters) in another place and prefers to receive their mail there (most likely for our voter contacts) or a student attending school out-of-state (less likely for our voter contacts).
I've heard that postcards aren't the most effective get out the vote (GOTV) tactic, why are you doing postcards?
- It's true that postcards/writing campaigns are not as effective as some other GOTV efforts, in-person canvassing in particular. It's also true that many people want to participate in GOTV efforts, but canvassing is not for them because of physical challenges or other reasons. The same is true with texting and phone banking. We have found that there are people who are willing and able to commit to postcard writing and not to other GOTV efforts and/or who can fit postcard writing in at times and places where other forms of GOTV work are not practical.
- Postcard efforts like ours are part of a groundswell of work aimed at turning out voters; they don't replace canvassing, phone banking or texting - not to mention voter registration, tabling at community events, and otherwise donating time and money to candidates and causes. We hope that some of our postcard writers will find the experience rewarding and inspiring enough that they will add other forms of activism to their personal arsenal.
- We used FLIP NC's analysis of our 2018 postcard efforts to help us refine the focus of our 2019/2020 project. In 2018, our postcards were most effective among older white voters. Our 2019/2020 effort will primarily target older white voters, most likely in rural areas and places that are not likely canvassing locations, who are either registered Democrats or progressive-leaning unaffiliated voters and who vote in some, but not all, elections.
I have another project/campaign idea for Stamp NC Blue, who can I tell it to?
We are fully committed to this project and aren’t able to consider others - regardless of how great or worthy or time-sensitive they are. However, we’re happy to give you a quick tutorial on how we’ve organized our efforts so you can consider launching your project/campaign yourself!
I’d like to join the management team, how do I do that?
Yay! Start by emailing info@stampncblue.org and put “Volunteer for Management Team” in the subject. Thank you!
I have a different question.
Great - email us at info@stampncblue.org.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ONLY RELEVANT FOR CAPTAINS COMMITTED TO ALL THREE STAGES:
My team is making contributions. How will I know if/when they reach $100?
SNCB isn’t tallying these until a Captain asks us to double-check. Captains should request their team members to confirm with them directly that they’ve made their contribution and how much it was. Once the Captain has reports indicating they’ve hit or passed $100, the Captain should email SNCB at info@stampncblue.org with names & amounts, we’ll confirm the total contribution from the team.
I want to collect contributions in-person for my team and send them in. How do I do this?
- SNCB strongly prefers that team members use the online contribution option at https://donorbox.org/cc-sncb2020. This works best for SNCB for a number of reasons. The most important one is that it ensures that all contributions are made in compliance with the very strict rules set forth by the NC State Board of Elections regarding financial contributions to PACs (which SNCB is), allowing us to meet all of the mandatory reporting requirements.
- However, we understand that some people are unable to, or uncomfortable with, doing financial transactions online. If you have to collect in-person contributions for your team, SNCB needs you to do some additional work to make sure we have all the information we’ll need for those mandatory reporting requirements. Before you get started, please contact us at info@stampncblue.org or (919) 213-9970 (voice only) to confirm all the details.