The truth is there is no one right answer, because everyone’s experiences are different. But in 2021, we tested the efficacy of different messages and found personal stories to be the most effective. These are stories rooted in the substance of your unique life experience, with concrete details and emotional descriptions.
The goal is to show how voting affects us and the people we care about in concrete ways, making abstract concepts like “democracy” or “elections” feel real and impactful. Voters get a lot of calls and canvass visits, and they see a lot of ads about why they should vote and who they should vote for—but reading a handwritten personal story can show them how voting affects real people’s lives.
Additionally, GOTV research has shown that nonpartisan messages are more effective than partisan ones. It’s important to keep in mind that you might be writing to voters who have a different lived experience from you. They likely live in a different community, and they might have different priorities when it comes to issues they care about.
It’s also important to note that nonpartisan in this context means not mentioning specific parties or candidates by name. Your message should focus on an issue you care about, in the context of your personal story.
Finally, keep it relatively brief. The goal is to insert your short story—your personal reason for voting—into the body of a pre-written letter. It should be 1 to 3 sentences that are specific, authentic, and compelling.
