Letter of Support

Organizations can play a powerful role in showing decision-makers that their communities support expanding access to secure mobile voting.

If you're a member, employee, volunteer, board member, or leader of an organization, you can encourage your organization to write a letter supporting mobile voting legislation in your community or state.

The Mobile Voting Project can help every step of the way — from providing background information and answering questions to sharing a sample letter your organization can customize.

You bring your organization's voice. We'll help make it easy to use it.

Why Write a Letter of Support?

When elected officials and other decision-makers consider new voting policies, they want to know what organizations in their communities think.

A letter of support demonstrates that interest in mobile voting extends beyond individual advocates. It can show that organizations representing students, veterans, people with disabilities, parents, businesses, community members, and other constituencies see value in expanding the ways eligible voters can participate.

Your organization's letter can also explain something The Mobile Voting Project can't: why mobile voting matters specifically to the people your organization represents.

That's what can make your voice especially valuable.

What Organizations Can Write a Letter?

Almost any organization with an interest in civic participation, accessibility, technology, or the communities that could benefit from additional voting options can consider writing a letter.

That could include:

  • Community and neighborhood organizations

  • Nonprofits

  • Disability advocacy organizations

  • Veterans and military organizations

  • Student and youth organizations

  • Colleges and campus groups

  • Faith communities

  • Parent and family organizations

  • Professional associations

  • Labor organizations

  • Business and community associations

  • Civic organizations

  • Advocacy organizations

  • Service organizations

Your organization doesn't have to specialize in elections.

If the people you serve could benefit from having more secure and accessible ways to participate in elections, your organization may have an important perspective to share.

Step-by-Step: Write a Letter of Support

STEP 1: Contact The Mobile Voting Project

Before getting started, reach out to bryce@mobilevoting.org.

Tell us what organization you're involved with and where you're located.

Our team can let you know whether there is relevant mobile voting legislation or another active opportunity for your organization to support. We can also provide information about the proposal, background materials, talking points, and a sample letter.

STEP 2: Identify Who Needs to Approve the Letter

Every organization works differently.

Find out who has the authority to approve a public letter or policy position on behalf of your organization.

That could be an executive director, president or CEO, board of directors, government affairs team, policy committee, chapter president, student organization executive board, or another designated leader.

If a formal vote or approval process is required, find out what needs to happen and when the appropriate group next meets.

STEP 3: Make the Case Internally

Explain why you think supporting mobile voting makes sense for your organization.

Focus especially on the connection to your organization's mission and members.

Does your organization represent people with disabilities who may encounter accessibility barriers? Students balancing classes and work? Military families? Rural communities? Parents and caregivers with limited time? People who have difficulty getting to a polling place?

The strongest case for your organization to get involved is the one connected directly to the people you serve.

You don't need to have every answer. If your organization's leaders have questions, The Mobile Voting Project can provide additional information or join a meeting to answer questions directly.

STEP 4: Draft the Letter

Once your organization is interested, it's time to put its support in writing.

The Mobile Voting Project can provide a sample letter to help you get started, but we encourage organizations to personalize it.

A strong letter should explain who your organization is, what legislation you support, why mobile voting matters to the people you represent, and what you are asking decision-makers to do.

You don't need to write several pages. A clear, personal letter of one page can make a strong statement.

Sample Letter of Support

Use the template below as a starting point. Replace the bracketed sections with information about your organization, community, and the specific legislation being considered.

Dear [LEGISLATOR/DECISION-MAKER],

On behalf of [ORGANIZATION NAME], an organization representing/serving [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MEMBERS OR COMMUNITY], we are writing in support of [BILL NUMBER/NAME], which would [ONE-SENTENCE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE LEGISLATION WOULD DO].

Our organization believes every eligible voter should have the opportunity to participate in our democracy. Yet for many of the people we serve, traditional voting methods can present real barriers. [ADD 1–2 SENTENCES ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY — for example, challenges experienced by voters with disabilities, military and overseas voters, students, rural voters, working families, caregivers, or others your organization represents.]

Mobile voting has the potential to provide an additional, accessible way for eligible voters to participate. Importantly, mobile voting would not replace existing voting methods. [IF APPLICABLE TO THE LEGISLATION: Voters would continue to have the option to vote in person or by mail while gaining an additional option to securely cast their ballot using a smartphone or other personal device.]

Mobile voting has already been used in U.S. elections, including for military and overseas voters and voters with disabilities. Today's mobile voting technology can incorporate security measures such as identity verification, encryption, ballot anonymity, and end-to-end verification designed to allow voters to verify that their ballot was recorded as intended.

For [ORGANIZATION NAME], this issue is particularly important because [ADD 1–3 SENTENCES EXPLAINING WHY MOBILE VOTING CONNECTS TO YOUR ORGANIZATION'S MISSION OR MEMBERS].

We believe voters deserve secure and accessible options for making their voices heard. We therefore urge you to [SUPPORT/VOTE FOR/ADVANCE] [BILL NUMBER/NAME] and help expand access to the democratic process.

Thank you for your consideration and your service to [STATE/COMMUNITY].

Sincerely,

[NAME]
[TITLE]
[ORGANIZATION]
[CONTACT INFORMATION]

Make the Letter Your Own

The sample above is a starting point — not a script.

Personalizing the letter can make it more useful to decision-makers. Consider adding:

  • A story from someone your organization serves.

  • An example of voting barriers your members encounter.

  • Information about how many people your organization represents.

  • A connection between voting access and your organization's mission.

  • Why your organization believes another voting option would benefit its community.

  • Local information or experiences that decision-makers will recognize.

The goal isn't simply to say that your organization supports mobile voting. Explain why your organization has chosen to speak up.

STEP 5: Get the Letter Approved and Signed

Follow whatever approval process your organization requires.

Once approved, have the letter signed by the appropriate organizational representative. Depending on the organization, that might be the executive director, board chair, president, policy director, chapter leader, or multiple organizational leaders.

If possible, put the final letter on your organization's official letterhead.

STEP 6: Send the Letter to The Mobile Voting Project

Once the letter is finalized, make sure it reaches the people who need to see it by sharing it with our team. We’ll make sure to get it in front of the bill's sponsors, members of the committee considering the legislation, legislative leadership, your organization's state legislators, local elected officials, election officials, or other relevant decision-makers.

STEP 7: Consider Making Your Support Public

Your letter can have an impact beyond the people who receive it directly.

If your organization is comfortable doing so, consider posting the letter on your website, sharing it on social media, including it in your newsletter, encouraging members to contact decision-makers individually, or asking other organizations to consider writing their own letters.

Tips for a Strong Letter

Connect it to your mission. Explain why mobile voting is relevant to the work your organization already does.

Speak for your community. Your organization's greatest contribution is its knowledge of the people it represents.

Be specific. If your members encounter particular barriers to voting, explain what those barriers look like.

Keep it concise. A focused one-page letter is often more useful than a lengthy policy document.

Use your own voice. The Mobile Voting Project can provide information and a template, but the letter should reflect your organization.

Make a clear ask. Decision-makers should finish the letter knowing exactly what action your organization is requesting.

Don't Know Enough About Mobile Voting Yet?

That's okay.

Your organization doesn't need to take a position before learning more.

Invite The Mobile Voting Project to join an upcoming meeting. Our team can explain how mobile voting works, discuss the technology, share information about previous uses of mobile voting, answer questions, and explain legislation being considered in your community.

Then your organization can decide whether it wants to get involved.

Ready to Get Started?

Think about an organization you're involved with that could have a valuable voice in the conversation about mobile voting.

Ask its leadership whether they would consider supporting mobile voting legislation — and let us help make the process easy.

Reach out to bryce@mobilevoting.org to get connected with The Mobile Voting Project team, learn about current opportunities, and receive resources to help draft your organization's letter.

Your organization already has a voice in your community. A letter of support is a simple way to make sure decision-makers hear it.