Welcome to the Dove Direct Print and Marketing Blog. Today's post, "Print's Mail-In Ballots Sway Election," reaffirms the power of print in elections and highlights the safety and security of print communications during a pandemic. With COVID-19 cases on the rise, we can expect that almost any non-essential face-to-face meeting will be on the back burner. Or, if necessary, it will take place remotely. Most in-person meetings of any kind will be limited by the total number of people, length of time together, and that mandate applies to working, shopping, and dining out, to name a few. The increase in remote living and socializing continues to impact our lives in ways that we could not have imagined. Nowhere has this been more evident than during the 2020 presidential election. While counts for same day, in-person voting heavily favored the president, mail-in ballots, on the other hand, favored his competitor. We can say with certainty that mail-in ballots changed the presidential race for the first time in history in the modern era. Not only were a historic number of ballots requested, completed, and returned, but the sheer volume has also been historic. The twin reality of a consequential election and a pandemic suggest that print is now more valuable than ever.
Quote of the Day: "The printing press is the greatest weapon in the armory of the modern commander." --T. E. Lawrence
The Case In Pennsylvania
According to Politico, "Democrats return nearly three times as many mail-in ballots as Republicans in Pennsylvania." Further, new data shows that, on average, 81% of the state's voters who request ballots return them. That is a historic and significant return rate.
Granted, this was a presidential election, thereby garnering center stage once early voting began and continuing right up to and through Election Day. Of course, interest was at an all-time high, this being a 'presidential' election year. A historical event like an election will garner plenty of attention on its own. These events will almost always exceed a product, brand, or marketing initiative due to a national desire to have maximum participation. Consequently, awareness is extremely high. The coronavirus pandemic drove interest in mail-in ballots due to concerns about social distancing at polling places. Under the direst circumstances, the voting public believed and trusted in the printed collateral they were filling out and returning. The printed mail-in ballot may very well prove to be the most trusted form of political voting engagement through it all.
COVID-19 Rising
Election Week saw record numbers of new COVID-19 cases, exceeding 122,000 plus. Seven-Day records have been set with new patients. Unfortunately, we are still waiting on a federal plan or vaccine to help curb the spread.
Dr. Michael Osterholm, Ph.D., MPH, CIDRAP, stated on November 6 that in the weeks to come, we would look back at a case count of 122,000, as the good old days given what lies ahead. According to Dr. Osterholm, we are about to face some very dark days ahead.
We may have to conform to a partial or short term lockdown to get the spread under control. T he spread of the virus, in our view, signals that the value of print communications for marketing, information, and sales initiatives will take on greater importance. People have already demonstrated that print is their most trusted partner. The pandemic and the need to maintain social distancing only emphasizes why more people will rely on print.
The Net-Net
As the results of this election continue to unfold, it is clear that printed mail-in ballots are a vital component in our democracy. Brands and marketers should take heed in embracing the increased value of print, namely the faith and trustworthiness that the people place in print, specifically, printed mail-in ballots. Thanks for taking a few moments to read Print's Mail-In Ballots Sway the Election!
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