Writing bilingual letters in English and Spanish
Part of our ambitious research agenda for 2021, this experiment is preparation for the 2022 midterm elections.
Thank you for your interest in our 2021 bilingual English/Spanish letter experiment! We’re thrilled to be running this Vote Forward Labs experimental campaign with our friends at Voto Latino.
The 2021 experiment
In late 2020, our pilot bilingual letter experiment for the U.S. Senate runoff elections in Georgia appeared to substantially increase voter turnout among the voters assigned to receive bilingual letters. That was a pretty small test though! With this larger randomized experiment, we’re attempting to determine the impact of bilingual letters on voter turnout in the Atlanta and Miami mayoral elections on November 2.
For each city, we have a control group, a group set to receive standard “please vote” letters in English, and a group set to receive bilingual English/Spanish “please vote” letters. In both Florida and Georgia, voters self-identify their race/ethnicity when they register, so we’ll be using this information to target voters who self-identified as Hispanic on their voter registration, and who we believe are likely to support Democratic candidates based on their partisanship scores.
Everyone can participate
Volunteers do not need to be fluent in Spanish to participate in this experimental campaign. To make it more accessible, we collected messages that many volunteers already add to their letters and crafted Spanish translations for them. These messages are listed below. If you cannot write your “I vote because” message in both English and Spanish, we hope you will select a message from Vote Forward’s English/Spanish Message Library to use on these letters. Volunteers also have the option of reaching out to someone who is fluent in Spanish to translate a different message.
If you’re ready to write, please select a campaign below.
Atlanta 2021 Mayoral ElectionMiami 2021 Mayoral ElectionBilingual campaign
All voters "adopted"Bilingual campaignEnglish campaign
All voters "adopted"English campaign
To choose a message from our library to add to your letters in both English and Spanish, please scroll down and select whichever message resonates for you the most.
Atlanta 2021 Mayoral Election
Miami 2021 Mayoral Election
Bilingual campaign
All voters "adopted"
English campaign
All voters "adopted"
English/Spanish Message Library
If you cannot write your “I vote because” message in both English and Spanish, please select a message from the list below to use on your letters. The corresponding Spanish translation is listed immediately beside the message in English. The messages are grouped by topic.
Topic
English Message
Spanish Message
Accountability
I vote because it is my one opportunity to let our politicians know that they are accountable to the people, and to hold them accountable. Every vote will make a difference, including yours.
Yo voto porque es mi única oportunidad de hacerles saber a nuestros gobernantes que ellos tienen responsabilidades para con nosotros, y hacerlos rendir cuentas. Cada voto cuenta, incluido el tuyo.
Care about our country
I vote because I care about my country, and I believe it’s my duty to help elect candidates who care about my family and me.
Yo voto porque me preocupo por mi país y creo que es mi deber ayudar a elegir candidatos que se preocupan por mi familia y por mí.
Children, Grandchildren
I vote because my vote is my say in how the country is run, and it impacts the future for my children and grandchildren.
Yo voto porque mi voto influye cómo se maneja el país, y tiene un impacto sobre el futuro de mis hijos y nietos.
Make my voice heard
I vote because I want this country to work for everyone—not just the privileged and wealthy. Voting is a way to make my voice—our voices—heard.
Yo voto porque quiero que este país funcione para todos, no sólo para los privilegiados y ricos. Votar es una manera de hacerme - hacernos - oír.
Make our country better
I vote because voting is an easy action I can take to help make our country a better place for my family, friends, and community.
Yo voto porque votar es una simple medida que puedo tomar para contribuir a que nuestro país sea un lugar mejor para vivir para mi familia, mis amigos y la comunidad entera.
Parents
I vote because I want my voice to be heard. My parents taught me the importance of voting, and I do the same as a parent.
Yo voto porque quiero que se escuche mi voz. Mis padres me enseñaron cuán importante es el voto, y yo hago lo mismo con mis hijos.
Proud to vote
I vote because I like to know that I am part of the process of creating our future. It makes me feel proud.
Yo voto porque me gusta ser parte del proceso de crear nuestro futuro. Me hace sentir orgulloso.
Right to be heard
I vote because I believe that everyone regardless of race, color, creed, age, or sexual orientation has a right to be heard and represented.
Yo voto porque creo que todos, sin distinción de raza, color, creencias religiosas, edad u orientación sexual, tienen el derecho a ser oídos y representados.
Voting matters
I vote because it matters! Elections have consequences. And doing something is always better than doing nothing.
¡Yo voto porque es importante! Elecciones tienen consecuencias. Y hacer algo siempre es mejor que no hacer nada.
Women
I vote because women fought long and hard for the right to vote. It is the best way to make my voice heard.
Yo voto porque las mujeres lucharon largo y duro para obtener el derecho al voto. Es la mejor manera de hacer escuchar mi voz.