Timing Intelligence

Calculate a Five-Phase Political Mail Timeline

Build office-specific postcard drop dates around Election Day, early voting, print deadlines, proof approvals, and in-home windows.

Build Coverage Plan Data Sources

Mail Coverage Model

Example route readiness

Planning

96,300 target households

ReadyNeeds listPriorityReview

HAM-01

Hamilton west

14.2kReady

HAM-02

North suburbs

11.8kReady

BUT-04

Butler east

8.9kGap

WAR-03

Warren south

7.4kReview

CLE-02

Clermont core

9.6kReady

BUT-07

Butler west

6.1kGap

HAM-06

Urban core

12.7kReady

PRI-12

High priority

5.5kPriority

WAR-08

Outer ring

4.8kReview

HAM-09

Count pending

TBDGap

CLE-05

River corridor

10.4kReady

WAR-11

Final QA

6.9kReview

92%

target coverage

routes need lists

mail window

Timeline Inputs

Campaign calendar

Candidate or campaignOfficeElection typeGeographyElection datePlanning startsEarly vote starts (optional)

Recommended Mail Arc

Campaign

Governor / statewide executive in Ohio. Election Day: Nov 3, 2026.

Healthy campaign runway

Runway

171 days

First drop

May 21, 2026

Final in-home

Oct 30, 2026

Office-specific cadence

Six-month statewide arc: name ID, summer priorities, late-summer credibility, early vote, final GOTV.

Statewide executive races need the longest runway because name ID, geography, media markets, and approval cycles are heavier.

Five-Phase Postcard Plan

Recommended drop calendar

Build coverage plan

Phase 1

Candidate introduction / name ID

Mail drop

May 21, 2026

166 days before Election Day

Catch-up from ideal May 7, 2026

Introduce the candidate and make the race recognizable before the crowded late-cycle window.

Biography, service record, why the candidate is running, and the office being sought.

In-homeMay 26, 2026 - May 29, 2026ProofMay 5, 2026PrintMay 7, 2026

Why this timing

Early mail creates baseline recognition before voters are overloaded by late-cycle messages.

For a governor race, this is the six-month statewide name-ID wave. Missing it means the next best move is an immediate catch-up introduction.

Phase 2

Issue priority / local proof

Mail drop

Jun 25, 2026

131 days before Election Day

Connect the campaign to the top public priorities for the office and geography.

Two or three concrete priorities, local stakes, and a simple call to learn more.

In-homeJun 30, 2026 - Jul 3, 2026ProofJun 9, 2026PrintJun 11, 2026

Why this timing

The second wave turns awareness into reasons to remember the campaign.

Statewide executive races need the longest runway because name ID, geography, media markets, and approval cycles are heavier.

Phase 3

Credibility / contrast

Mail drop

Aug 13, 2026

82 days before Election Day

Reinforce why the candidate or campaign is prepared, credible, and different.

Qualifications, endorsements, record, contrast, or issue-specific credibility.

In-homeAug 18, 2026 - Aug 21, 2026ProofJul 28, 2026PrintJul 30, 2026

Why this timing

Late-summer and early-fall mail typically shifts from recognition into choice framing.

Statewide executive races need the longest runway because name ID, geography, media markets, and approval cycles are heavier.

Phase 4

Early vote / ballot window

Mail drop

Sep 29, 2026

35 days before Election Day

Reach households as vote-by-mail, absentee, or early-vote behavior begins.

Voting options, urgency, district reminder, QR or landing-page path, and approval-safe call to action.

In-homeOct 2, 2026 - Oct 7, 2026ProofSep 11, 2026PrintSep 15, 2026

Why this timing

Campaign calendars should anchor to the first meaningful ballot window, not only Election Day.

This phase should be checked against the official state and county early-vote or absentee calendar before production release.

Phase 5

Final GOTV / election reminder

Mail drop

Oct 22, 2026

12 days before Election Day

Land a final reminder in the last week when simple, high-recall messaging matters most.

Election date, candidate name, office, vote reminder, and compliance disclaimer.

In-homeOct 27, 2026 - Oct 30, 2026ProofOct 6, 2026PrintOct 8, 2026

Why this timing

The final wave should arrive close enough to be remembered but early enough to avoid postal risk.

Keep this wave simple: name, office, date, voting reminder, and legally required disclaimer.

Production rules

Phase 1

Creative lock: Apr 30, 2026

Print deadline: May 7, 2026

Phase 2

Creative lock: Jun 4, 2026

Print deadline: Jun 11, 2026

Methodology guardrails

Six-month statewide arc: name ID, summer priorities, late-summer credibility, early vote, final GOTV.
Postcard drop means USPS/BMEU induction or mail-house handoff, followed by a modeled 3-6 business-day in-home window.
The early-vote phase can anchor to a supplied absentee or early-vote start date when the campaign has that official calendar.
This model is geography, timing, production, and compliance planning only. It does not score individual voters or infer ideology.