Email Newsletters

UpVote includes a built-in email newsletter tool inside the Admin Portal. Use it to design newsletters, choose a mailing list, and send campaign updates without exporting contacts to another system.

Before you start

• You must have Admin Portal access.
• Your campaign must complete the required sending settings before newsletters can be sent.

Where to find the newsletter tool

1. Log into the UpVote Admin Portal.
2. In the left sidebar, click Newsletters.

Step 1: Complete your newsletter settings

1. Click the Settings step.
2. Fill in the required sender and account settings (the portal will show a notice if anything is missing).
3. Save your changes.

Tip: If you see a warning banner about missing settings, complete this step first. You will not be able to send newsletters until the required settings are saved.

Step 2: Choose a template and design your newsletter

1. Click Design & Edit.
2. Under Select your Template, choose one of the template options:
   • Designed templates, organized by category (examples: Basic, Most Popular, Colored, Holidays, Blank)
   • Customized templates (your campaign’s saved templates)
   • Past Newsletters (reuse a previous newsletter)
   • Upload from URL (import an existing design)
3. Click a template to open it.
4. Edit the content:
   • Update text blocks
   • Replace images
   • Adjust buttons and links
5. Save your changes.

Best practice: Start from a template you like and reuse it each time. Consistency improves recognition and saves time.

Step 3: Choose your mailing list

1. Click Mailing Lists.
2. Select the audience you want to email.

Common list examples:

• Volunteers
• Donors
• Event RSVPs
• Supporters in a specific area
• Contacts with specific tags

Tip: If your list strategy relies on tags, confirm your tags are up to date before sending.

Step 4: Review and send

1. Click Review & Send.
2. Verify:
   • Newsletter subject and sender details
   • Mailing list selection
   • Links and buttons
   • Images and formatting
3. Send the newsletter.

Tip: Always send a test email to yourself or a teammate before sending to a full list.

Recommended newsletter cadence for campaigns

• Weekly during high activity periods (early vote, GOTV, major announcements)
• Every two weeks during slower periods
• Use one clear goal per email (volunteer, event, donate, voting plan)

Troubleshooting

“My account lacks settings for sending newsletters”

This means the required sender settings are not completed.

• Go back to Settings
• Fill in all required fields
• Save, then return to Review & Send

“My newsletter is not displaying correctly”

• Use a simpler template
• Reduce image size
• Avoid copying and pasting formatted text from Google Docs or Word, paste as plain text when possible

Need help?

If you want help choosing a template, setting up mailing lists, or building a campaign email cadence, contact the UpVote team for a short walkthrough.