by Geri Turnoy

Starting this past February, women and men from Orcas Island have been engaged in the Vote Forward letter writing campaign to Get-Out-The-Vote in vital swing states. These letters were non-partisan and did not mention specific political parties or candidates, but merely encouraged voters to let their voices be heard. Providing their own materials and 1st class postage, more than 40 Orcas folks continued writing throughout the pandemic, amassing nearly 6,000 letters that were mailed out on Oct. 15. Vote Forward research shows that when voters receive personalized letters close to Election Day encouraging them to vote, they are twice as likely to cast their ballots. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated in the GOTV campaign. Our letters will be added to the more than 10 million that will reach inconsistent voters across the country. Please remember to fill out your ballot here on Orcas ASAP and put it in the Drop Box at the end of the Senior Center parking lot or mail it before Oct. 27.