Do Mailers Really Help A Campaign?

by Breanna Fuss, Reporter
November 05, 2012 6:14 PM


It is just one way of campaigning, and it has been filling up mailboxes around the Sioux Empire all election season.  
 
Mailers, they come in all sizes, colors and have some interesting wording, all in hopes to get your attention and your vote.

 But what we found is that they seem to be getting on people’s last nerves.

Charles Carey believes he has gotten around 30 mailers persuading him to vote one way or another-he said the only thing they do is annoy him.

"The mailers don't persuade my vote at all,” said Charles Carey.

Thomas Robison feels like mailers bend the truth, so he throws them right out.

“You know I think you can put a spin on just about any information, so I figured most of what I am getting is spin and not real facts,” said Thomas Robison.
 
And Darlene Johnson has found herself getting multiple copies of the same mailer, some six at a time.  

"Now I don't know if they all got held in the mail and came in on the same day, but I thought gosh this is too many. Just way too many,” said Darlene Johnson.

So what do candidates hope voters’ get from their mailers before they end up in the trash?     

Political Science professor Emily Wanless from Augustana College has the explanation.  

"Even if they are aggravating a voter has to pick them up and look and them, recognize what's on them, then throw them away,” said Emily Wanless.

She said that gives a voter a name and a party to think about, which is the candidates’ goal.

"If nothing else, it gets your name out there, and hopefully that transfers from the home to the voting booth,” said Wanless.

She also said over all it is the cheapest way to get a message out; warning voters this isn’t the end of mailers.
 
"I hope they all recycle,” Wanless said.

Secretary of State Jason Gant sent out a message Monday warning voters of mailers being sent from a Political Action Group called ‘Every Vote Counts PAC.’
Gant said the mailers are telling some voters to go to the wrong polling places.

If you don’t know where to vote Tuesday there is a website where you can enter your information and find out.