Sending Republicans pro–gay marriage postcards cut their turnout on election day

[Virginiá]

http://www.vox.com/2016/5/30/11764840/voter-turnout-demobilization-experiment

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I think it's time to show these conservatives what the gay agenda is capable of as we Make America Fabulous Again by saturating mailboxes nationwide with pro-LGBT material!

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

It was a May primary with no competitive statewide race on the GOP side.  So the main thing most Republicans were turnout out to vote on was on whether to prohibit gay marriage.    On the Democratic side there was a contested governor primary.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

It sure would remind me to turn out to vote, I tell you what.

[Badger]

i don't see how this would work. one assumes a mailing from the opposing side of an election might enflame (no pun intended the recipient to angrily turn out to oppose that message/candidate.

[Virginiá]

It was a May primary with no competitive statewide race on the GOP side.  So the main thing most Republicans were turnout out to vote on was on whether to prohibit gay marriage.    On the Democratic side there was a contested governor primary.

That's a good point. I wonder if this technique could be re-purposed for other divisive issues, though. It doesn't necessarily have to be a social issue, just whatever issue is currently big enough and possibly split along generational lines, as the research showed it was more effective in bigger households:

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So the idea is basically to stir up animosity in voters homes and get people to stay home out of a desire to avoid fights

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

i don't see how this would work. one assumes a mailing from the opposing side of an election might enflame (no pun intended the recipient to angrily turn out to oppose that message/candidate.

People who would get enflamed probably were motivated enough by the issue to come out anyway. 

Some skepticism of any single study like this is warranted though.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

(Disclaimer: I don't consider myself one of those who cries over the death of democracy) If this actually works, it strikes me as a politically unhealthy way to promote your agenda.

[Virginiá]

(Disclaimer: I don't consider myself one of those who cries over the death of democracy) If this actually works, it strikes me as a politically unhealthy way to promote your agenda.

Yes, I was sort of thinking this myself. Everyone should be informing themselves and participating, and groups trying to one-up each other by driving down turnout for their opposition using psychological tricks is not a good direction to go in. This is why I am so fervently against Republican voter suppression tactics.

[dax00]

This type of tactic is fine by me, for the same reason I like caucuses.

[pho]

Most political tactics are psychological hacking; focused group tested everything—specific color schemes to make you think patriotic things, spooky music to make you think bad things about the grey scale man on the screen with the troubling headlines, intellecually hollow catch phrases that sound vaguely like something you should support. I don't see why this is any more offensive. Is it only fair to manipulate your own supporters' psychology?

[Virginiá]

Most political tactics are psychological hacking; focused group tested everything—specific color schemes to make you think patriotic things, spooky music to make you think bad things about the grey scale man on the screen with the troubling headlines, intellecually hollow catch phrases that sound vaguely like something you should support. I don't see why this is any more offensive. Is it only fair to manipulate your own supporters' psychology?

So where does it end? Do anything to win? Using tricks to get your voters to the polls is one thing, but using tricks to keep your opponent's voters home is another. We shouldn't be trying to reduce turnout / voter participation just to win.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Most political tactics are psychological hacking; focused group tested everything—specific color schemes to make you think patriotic things, spooky music to make you think bad things about the grey scale man on the screen with the troubling headlines, intellecually hollow catch phrases that sound vaguely like something you should support. I don't see why this is any more offensive. Is it only fair to manipulate your own supporters' psychology?

So where does it end? Do anything to win? Using tricks to get your voters to the polls is one thing, but using tricks to keep your opponent's voters home is another. We shouldn't be trying to reduce turnout / voter participation just to win.

Plus, modern politics gives voters enough reasons to stay home as it is.