Intro

This guide describes the email and text communications that are built into Motivote, related to users upcoming elections and action progress. Want to send custom email or text messages to users? Learn about options for Custom Broadcast Messaging.

In this Section

Branding

Segmentation

Permission & Settings

Election Action Campaigns

Other Campaigns

Messaging Overview

Motivote automatically sends occasional email and text messages that are branded for your organization. Messages are dynamic and personalized to each user, based on the user's next election and progress through the vote-readiness journey.

Examples of messages a user may receive include:

The deadline to register in your upcoming election is next week and you're not registered at your current address - here's what to do
The deadline to request your absentee ballot is coming up in 5 days and you haven't confirmed that you requested it - here's how to do it
Your plan to vote is tomorrow - here's where to go and what to bring

Users are automatically opted into email reminders upon creating an account and can earn Motivote points by opting into text reminders. They can change their settings at any time. Starting in Fall 2024, organizations that use Slack for internal communications will optionally be able to turn on reminder campaigns through this channel as well.

Organizational Branding

Communications are visually branded for your organization or initiative. This includes: header, logo, and brand color for buttons and hyperlinks.

The greeting and closing of the message will include your dashboard name, such as “This is [ORG] on Motivote reaching out with a reminder…”

Personalization & Segmentation

Messages are dynamic and personalized to each user, based on the user's next election and progress through the vote-readiness journey.

This means all of your users will receive different messages on different timelines. For example, users are reminded to request their absentee ballot starting ~15 days out from their state deadline; in some states, the ballot request deadline is much earlier than in other states. There is no single calendar of messages.

Permissions & Settings

User-Level Settings

Users will automatically be opted into receiving emails upon creating their account.
Users can choose to provide their phone number in order to receive SMS; they use a 4-digit confirmation code to verify their number.
Users can change communication preferences at any time via their Settings page.

Dashboard-Wide Settings

On an organizational level, our built-in campaigns can be turned off if you prefer your users not receive them. Upon request, you may be able alter the timing based on logistics such as calendar year timing (ie. avoiding holiday/break periods).

Message Campaigns

Election Action Campaigns

Your Next Election	Goes to users when they have a new election based on the registration address saved in Motivote. Sent ~4-6 weeks out from Election Day. For existing users only.
Select Voting Method	Goes to users who have an upcoming election but have not completed “Select Voting Method." For new and existing users.
Make Plan to Vote	Goes to users who have selected a voting method but not yet made a plan to vote, based on on their method: Election Day: If user has not completed “Make a Plan to Vote on Election Day," get message ~7 days out from Election Day. Early Voting: If user has not completed “Make a Plan to Vote Early," get message as the first and/or last day to vote early approaches, with specific timing based on the length of the early voting period in their state. Absentee/Mail Voting: If user has not completed “Make a Plan to Return Ballot," get message as the deadline to mail back their ballot approaches. (Only in ‘Received by’ states or “Postmarked by’ states with special rules.)
Check Registration Status/Get Registered	Goes to users who have not completed “Check Registration Status” or “Get Registered” Action. Sent starting ~15 days from state’s regular registration deadline.
Request Absentee Ballot	Goes to users who have selected Absentee/Mail as their voting method but have not completed “Request Ballot” Action. Sent starting ~15 days from state’s regular ballot request deadline.
‘Day Before” Voting Plan Reminder	Goes to users who have completed “Make a Plan to Vote Action.” Sent the day before their planned voting day. Includes prompt to share ‘I Voted’ selfie. Election Day: Includes saved polling place and hours, planned ID if relevant Election Voting: Includes saved polling place and hours, planned ID if relevant Absentee/Mail Voting: Includes plan to return by mail or in-person, final return deadlines, state-specific rules

Other Campaigns

Email Confirmation	Goes to new users immediately after creating account. While you can use Motivote without confirming your email, we block some features: Invites, Create Team, Prizes. N/A for SSO users.
SMS Confirmation	Goes to users after completing the Sign Up for SMS Reminders Action. Users get a series of 2 text messages: The first asks them to enter a code we send them, which confirms it is their phone number. The second thanks them for signing up for reminders and suggests a next action.
Add Address	Goes to users who have created an account but not completed “Find Next Election” Action. Sent starting a few days after signing up.

FAQs: Election Actions