Grassroots Activism Work (3/24/24)
Our postcards have made a significant impact! We're delighted to share our victories in Fayetteville and Baldwinsville, New York. Casey Cleary-Hammarstedt secured a clear win for Village Trustee with the highest number of votes for the two available slots, while Donna K. Freylue is currently leading for the third slot out of three for Village Trustee, although the margin is slim enough to trigger a hand recount, delaying the official confirmation. Additionally, both town referendums to shift their elections from March to November have succeeded, despite facing opposition from the current town Trustees.
These referenda wins were important victories for democracy. We have seen NY Republicans at all levels oppose moving local elections from the spring or off years to November in even years because they know that more people vote in November in even year elections, and their goal is to decrease turnout and participation whenever possible. We also received positive feedback from our candidates who told us that the postcards motivated recipients to request yard signs and vote.
This success exemplifies our core belief in the effectiveness of grassroots activism through postcard campaigns. Our strategy focuses on races often overlooked by the media and other advocacy groups, where candidates rely on grassroots efforts to reach every doorstep. We see this as a long-term investment in democracy.
Since 2017, we've actively supported numerous campaigns, experiencing the thrill of victory and the disappointment of defeat. Yet, every effort contributes to a broader interconnectedness in our political landscape. Even in cases where victory eludes us, our Get Out the Vote initiatives may sway outcomes in other races.
Our strength lies in the relationships we cultivate with organizers, enabling us to target underrepresented races with personalized, handwritten postcards. In communities devoid of television advertisements, our postcards become a vital means of communication, driving engagement and voter turnout. We can create a buzz!
As we navigate the increasingly tumultuous landscape of 2024, we remain committed to identifying and supporting Postcards For Democracy campaigns where our efforts can make a tangible difference. These campaigns may not always be glamorous, but they represent vital opportunities to safeguard democracy one postcard at a time. Join us on this journey!