Postcard Stamps in Short Supply as New Yorkers Flock to Write Letters to Swing State Voters
When Becca Shapiro was waiting in line at the post office in Brooklyn last week, the man in front of her made an unusual request: he wanted to buy 1,000 postcard stamps. At first, Shapiro was confused. “I was like, ‘Why is this guy sending so many postcards?’” she told THE CITY. But other people in line immediately understood: the man was part of a postcard-sending campaign aimed at mobilizing swing state voters to the polls.
The Campaign Spreads
Campaigns like Postcards to Swing States recruit volunteers to mail handwritten postcards to Democratic and independent voters in states like Arizona, Georgia, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. According to Reid McCollum, the program outreach director of the political action committee running that campaign, New York has the most volunteers of any state except California.
Post Offices Struggle to Keep Up
Post offices all over the five boroughs seem to be struggling to keep up with the demand. In fact, postcard stamps are selling out at an unprecedented pace. According to multiple postal workers, they suspect that this is due to New Yorkers taking part in postcard-mailing campaigns ahead of the November election. A postal worker in Manhattan, who declined to give their name, said that they’ve been trying to stay on top of ordering the stamps, but it’s been impossible to keep up with demand. “People come in here and buy 300, 400” at a time, the worker said.
The Costly Conundrum
Even though postcards could technically be mailed with letter stamps, there’s one key advantage to using the correct stamp: it’s cheaper. Regular stamps cost $0.73 and postcard stamps cost $0.56. That can make a big difference; the Brooklyn man who wanted to buy 1,000 postcard stamps stood to save $170.
From Arizona to Alaska
According to the United States Postal Service, the problem is local. A spokesperson said, “The Postal Service is not aware of any nationwide shortage of postcard rate stamps.” However, at least one postcard-writer far outside the five boroughs had a similar issue. Carrie Watterson of Arizona tried to send her postcards while she was on a business trip in Alaska, but the Anchorage post office she visited had only about 60 stamps for sale. That was not enough to cover the huge stack she had ready to send.
Conclusion
As the election season heats up, it seems that postcard-writing campaigns are gaining popularity. Whether or not this trend will make a difference, one thing is clear: post offices are struggling to keep up with the demand. For those who are determined to send their postcards, online ordering and purchasing in bulk may be the best option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why are postcard stamps selling out?
A: Postcode stamps are selling out due to the high demand from people participating in postcard-writing campaigns ahead of the November election.
Q: Why are people sending postcards to swing state voters?
A: Postcard campaigns like Postcards to Swing States encourage volunteers to mail handwritten postcards to Democratic and independent voters in swing states to mobilize them to the polls.
Q: Can I still send postcards if my local post office is out of postcard stamps?
A: Yes, you can order postcard stamps online from the United States Postal Service or purchase them in bulk from multiple post offices.
