Election notifications.. Why don't we get any in the mail? (cost, law)

[Shelby1234]

I'm not from here, so it surprises me that I don't get election materials sent to me in the mail. You know, a reminder card that shows the date and polling place, and also a pamphlet that gives candidate statements and a sample ballot. Seems to me that voter turnout must be relatively low here without such mailers. Is there a state law or something that prohibits such mailers?

[CHTransplant]

I get mailers. I received the NC State Board of Elections 2010 Primary Voter Guide a couple of weeks ago. You can download it here:

North Carolina State Board of Elections

Also note that many towns and counties have email mailing lists that they use to send out regular information, including information about elections. Register on your town/county website to receive those emails.

[lunadesign]

In 2008, for months, I got no less then one mailer a day from the Obama campaign. All I could think of was what a waste of paper. I also got the voting guide recently. There's certainly no law. It must be a candidate thing... I haven't gotten any materials in the mail on anyone specifically for this election. However there are enough signs everywhere with websites on them to be able to find out everything you need to know about our current candidates.

[Shelby1234]

I haven't gotten a thing! And I'm a registered voter here and I voted in the last election!

[Francois]

^ The OP was not talking about candidate literature, rather "civic duty" mail that reminds people when elections (especially non-November elections) are coming up.

I am guessing that cost is the obvious reason they don't do it (plus "snail mail" is used less and less anymore as everything is going to email and web sites). And it might not have been doing that much good to improve turnout. I applaud the OP's worry that people aren't finding out about elections, but the best one person can do is tho remind one's acquaintances, use Facebook etc to bring up the topic, and use the Board of Elections website for questions. I certainly vote in every election, no matter how small, and wish everyone else did, too, but if someone else doesn't have enough interest to pay attention to when the elections are (candidate signs by the roadside are a big hint!), you could always say that maybe they shouldn't be voting in the first place.

[dedratermi]

I got a "2010 Primary Voter Guide" in the mail, from the NC State Board of Elections, last week. It's addressed to "Residential Customer," with no other name or address, so I have to assume the intent is for everyone with a mailbox to get one.

With all the campaigns signs popping up all over the place, it's hard to not know that an election is coming up.

[Shelby1234]

Francois, your last comment is really insulting and a cop out. All I can say is this state us waaaay behind many others in providing information about elections in a meaningful way. I have voted in every major election since I was 18! There are many of us who work 80 hours a week like myself who would really appreciate a mailer. None of us should have to go to any extra steps to get that basic info when we are registered voters. The Board of Elections should actively provide the info and NOT just on their website. My God, my senior citizen mother doesn't even have a computer! Should she be excluded from easily obtained voter information because of it? I find your attitude appallingly smug.

[DanielChang]

I got a 2010 Primary Voter Guide in the mail about a week ago, too.

[CHTransplant]

For many elections, the N&O also publishes a voter's guide.

[lamishra]

It's ALWAYS in the newspaper, the local news websites, the TV news and many, many other places. You don't need a mailer to remember to vote and IMO, would be a huge waste of taxpayer money.