Writealetter.org

Let's start writing letters again!

  • Home
  • About
  • Go The Write Way
  • Posts
  • Resources
  • Contact

“The pen is mightier than the sword”

March 21, 2022 By Carol

Dear Reader- If you’re like me, feeling anxious and helpless around the crisis in Ukraine, I have a suggestion. First donate if you can. And then pick up your pen to protect our fragile American democracy.

The midterm elections in this country will be happening in a few quick months. How our government works or doesn’t will be determined by the outcome from these elections. And if you are not aware, voting in America is becoming increasingly more difficult. “19 states passed 33 laws that make it harder to vote. And 49 states introduced more than 400 bills to limit access to the polls…restricting vote by mail, tightening voter ID requirements and more.” SPLC/ACTION

SPLC/ACTION

In the burgundy states, there are lots of new little details to be aware of so your ballot won’t be discarded. There’s some pretty crazy stuff, too. In Georgia and Florida, handing a bottle of water or a snack to someone caught on a hot day in a long line at a polling place- can actually get you arrested!

OK, with your pen in hand there IS something that you can do. VOTE FORWARD is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that encourages people to vote. And they do this through “handwritten” letter writing.  Information for a specific state’s latest voting rules, dates and polling places are all available in a link at the bottom of each letter. You only need to handwrite why voting matters to you. You do not mention any parties or candidates. You merely invite, inform, and motivate the voter to exercise their right to vote. Here’s a sample of my message-

VOTE FORWARD has multiple campaigns in progress. You can choose the states you want to write to. You can adopt as few as 5 voters or as many as you feel you can handle. You’ll need a printer, envelopes and stamps. And the deadline for mailing your letters is October 29th, (222 days from today). But don’t put it off. Remember this is a productive outlet for our current global anxiety.

SPLC// Mary Kate McDevitt

VOTE FORWARD gets results. Our handwritten letters get noticed. AND studies have shown that these letters DO increase voter turnout. Please sign up and start writing. Our democracy is on the line here. Thanks.

https://votefwd.org/instructions

Just two years ago, we celebrated the 100th Anniversary of Women earning the vote. Now we are struggling to keep that right for everyone. Think about it, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act (S.4263) which would have restored and federally protected our right to vote was shot down for lack of majority support!!! I was speechless. How did any of those politicians originally get their jobs? Weren’t they were voted in?

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/18/us/politics/texas-primary-ballot-rejections.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/18/us/politics/texas-primary-voting-law.html

Filed Under: Handwriting, Letter Writing in the News, Letters Shape Opinions, Uncategorized Tagged With: 100th Anniversary of Women's Right to Vote, democracy at stake, Georgia and Florida, handwritten letters, Hard to Vote, ID requirements, John Lewis, John Lewis Voting Rights Act S.4263, Mary Kate McDevitt, motivate voters, pen is mightier than the sword, Southern Poverty law Center, SPLC, Vote Forward, vote-by-mail, voter suspression, voting rights, voting rights are human rights

Subscribe

Subscribe to our mailing list for occasional newsletters and notices of new posts




Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • September 2021
  • July 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010

Copyright © 2023 · Carol Christmas · website by Hardenbergh Design · Log in