Stuff-N-Mail

Information may not be reliable

DIRECT TO THE VOTERS
The 2010 mid-term election includes races for 36 U.S. Senate seats, all 435 House of Representatives seats and 37 governors. During the hectic days leading up to the general election Tuesday, Nov. 2, many political consultants and campaign fundraisers will use direct mail for both fundraising and persuasion purposes.
Mail gives campaign managers the opportunity to speak directly to voters in a way they will find relevant, interesting and intriguing. It offers the ability to get precise information to a specific group of people in a way that enhances campaign messages in all other channels.
If you are thinking about using direct mail during this campaign season, here are some things you should know.
POLITICAL CAMPAIGN MAILINGS

Mailings made by organizations other than those listed above, even if promoting or endorsing political candidates, referendums and so forth, are not classified as political campaign mailings and cannot use Tag 57.

NONPROFIT STANDARD MAIL ELIGIBILITY AND PRICES
Section 3626(e) of Title 39, U.S. Code, permits certain Standard Mail material to be mailed by a qualified political committee at Nonprofit Standard Mail prices. The following political committees may be authorized to mail at Nonprofit Standard Mail prices:

A “national” or “state” committee is the organization that, by virtue of the bylaws of a political party, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the political party at the national or state level. Only the above named political parties and committees that have received authorization from USPS for the location where they enter mailings may mail eligible materials at Nonprofit Standard Mail prices. Except for mailings deposited under plant-verified drop shipment, a separate authorization is required at each Post Office where mailings are entered.
An authorized political committee may send Standard Mail matter, including qualifying election-related materials, such as candidate endorsements and sample ballots, at Nonprofit Standard Mail prices if the materials are exclusively that of the authorized committee. Qualified political committees may not make cooperative mailings at Nonprofit Standard Mail prices involving material mailed on behalf of, or produced for, individual candidates or political organizations, or other entities that have not been authorized to mail at Nonprofit Standard Mail prices.
The following are examples of political committee mailings that would not qualify for Nonprofit Standard Mail prices:

Material identified as having been paid for by the campaign committee of, or treasurer of, an individual candidate.

Flyers, brochures or other printed material prepared or printed by a political candidate or his or her campaign organization.

A mailing for which postage is paid by a political candidate or his or her campaign organization.

A mailing made on behalf of a candidate in return for a contribution to the qualifying political committee.

Discount mailings are subject to specific volume, marking and preparation requirements and must be entered at a business mail entry unit of the Post Office where the permit is held and the annual mailing fee paid for the class of mail being used.

Mailpieces paid with precanceled stamps must bear a complete domestic return address.