Democracy

Petition starters have an incredible opportunity to engage in the 2020 Election

The 2020 General Election is on track to dominate national news headlines and dinner table discussions for the month ahead. And the outcomes of the election are likely to affect countless petitions and issues supported by the Change.org community.

If you’re a leader of a campaign on Change.org, you have an incredible opportunity to help make sure the people who signed your petition are prepared to participate in the election. Unfortunately, many Americans face serious barriers to voting – which is why it’s even more important that eligible voters raise their voices. When petition supporters use their voting power, you can help elect leaders who share your vision of the future. A future where your petition can easily become a victory.

There are several ways we hope you and your supporters will participate in the lead up to the 2020 Presidential Election. If you’ve ever started a petition on Change.org before, here are a few things we’d like you to encourage your supporters to do:

  • Register to vote by early October
  • Get friends, family, coworkers and neighbors to register to vote
  • Request a mail-in ballot to vote safely without risk of catching or transmitting COVID
  • Vote early (by mail-in ballot or at a polling location if you prefer in-person)
  • Write letters to eligible voters who have a history of not voting to make sure they cast their ballot this year (we have an online tool to use to do this!)

Below we’ve provided messages that you can share with your petition signers via petition updates. Feel free to customize the messages so they sound like you. Add details of why you think it’s important to vote, or how voting may impact the outcome of your petition. The links are extremely important – please be sure to use the links exactly as they are written so we can track how many responses come from within the Change.org community.

You can share all of these messages with your signers, or you can pick and choose the ones you like best.


Message headline: Are you registered to vote?
Suggested send date: ASAP

Hi everyone!

Petitions like mine are most effective when people like you participate in raising your voice. And the same thing is true in the upcoming 2020 Presidential Election.

I want every single eligible citizen over the age of 18 to vote this year, and that includes everyone who signed my petition. So, I’m asking you — will you double check that you’re registered to vote right now?

It takes just 3 minutes and you can start right now by clicking here: www.whenweallvote.org/change

We need to elect lawmakers who believe in our shared vision for the future. That way, petitions like mine can win and we can create real change in our country and our local communities.

Thanks for your support!


Message headline: Three things you can do for the 2020 Election
Suggested send date: ASAP

Hi supporters,

Here are three things you can do to help make sure everyone votes in the 2020 election:

  1. Register to vote: www.change.org/vote2020
  2. Remind three friends to vote: Text CHANGE to 55-222 for reminders (standard text fees apply)
  3. Write “Please Vote” letters to under-represented voters in critical swing states: https://votefwd.org/change

If you still need to double check that you’re registered to vote, you can do so here: www.change.org/vote2020

Once you’ve confirmed that you’re registered to vote, leave a comment on this update saying you’re going to vote! Let’s see how many of us are ready for the election!


Message headline: Remind 3 friends to vote
Suggested send date: By early-October, but send sooner if you prefer!

This election is so important! 

Will you remind 3 friends to vote?

Test CHANGE to 55-222 now. 

When you send your text, you’ll get a reply with simple next steps. This is a tactic called “vote tripling” and studies have shown that if you ask your friends to vote they are far more likely to cast their ballot!


Message headline: You can convince people to vote this year
Suggested send date: ASAP

Handwritten “please vote” letters sent to unlikely voters in critical swing states are one of the most powerful things any of us can do to influence this election. Are you willing to write a few letters?

Here’s where to sign up: https://votefwd.org/change

Basically, this is a way to help convince other people who typically don’t vote in Presidential elections to vote this year. It’s all based on writing letters to those people. And the data shows that it works!

All you need to do is sign up and the online tool will give you a template for your letters along with a list of people to send your letters to. You can send as many letters as you want, and you can invite your friends and family to write letters too.

Sign up here: https://votefwd.org/change

Written by
Change.org
October 1, 2020 1:28 pm