‘Keep Democracy Alive’: Postcards to Voters

Early voting has begun in Massachusetts, and in several other states. It will be interesting to find out if more Americans registered and voted because of the energy and commitment of small groups like this one. Some studies indicate that even a small percentage increase can translate to many thousands of votes. The postcards sent out to voters are handwritten, nonpartisan, and focus on the process of voting. Most begin, “Thank you for being a voter.”

A group of year-round Island residents and summer visitors spent Mondays throughout the summer writing and addressing postcards to encourage people to register to vote, or to remember to vote. It was part of a nationwide get-out-the-vote effort.

The project began as an idea of Bob Reardon’s. He wanted “to assemble Island organizations in an ad hoc, nonpartisan alliance whose efforts would be directed toward voter registration and get-out-the-vote initiatives, for president and both Houses of Congress.”

He contacted Carla Cooper, who recommended Rita Brown and Carole Early. They began meeting in the fall of 2023 to discuss what they could do together. All shared a long history of membership in local nonprofits that focused on social justice and voter education.

Together they chose the name Keep Democracy Alive, wrote a charter, and built a website and email list. Most importantly, they reached out to recruit partners: the Cottagers, League of Women Voters, Hebrew Center, Black Lives Matter, M.V. Democrats, Indivisible M.V., Unitarian Universalist Society of Martha’s Vineyard, M.V. Diversity Coalition. They were eager to ”Do Something,” as Michelle Obama famously urged American citizens. And they did.