How Many On This Board Are Actively Working To GOTV?

[JimGinPA]

I see some anger and a lot of "concern" but I'm not seeing a lot of talk about participation. I'm volunteering for the Democrat running for Congress in my district, phone banking a couple evenings a week. I've also made some small donations to other Democratic candidates.

Please check in if you are. I'm really interested to hear what others here are doing.


If you're not doing anything yet, maybe you could consider helping out somehow.

[TreasonousBastard]

1. I'm not a big fan of phone banking, but I'm walking and knocking on doors...

and organizing local groups and meetings.

[SamKnause]

2. I have gotten 2 people to register to vote.

I gave them a list of the democratic candidates that would be on the ballot.

I gave them an explanation of Issue 1 that will be on the ballot.

One is in his late 40's and has never voted.

One is 19 and it will be his first time voting.

[greymattermom]

3. I'm a precinct manager in Georgia 6.

I'll be there to help when folks arrive, and I'll drive the memory cards back to headquarters. I'll check to make sure the number of votes cast equals the number of voters present. We have an important governor's race, so I hope there will be good turnout.

[Funtatlaguy]

26. Does Lucy stand a real chance? I was all in last time when the vile Handel won.

[Bradshaw3]

4. Im working for our congressional candidate

Written some online content, canvassed and will do phone canvassing leading up to the election. Will also do general phone bank work in general for Dems in our state.

[alfie]

5. I am canvassing every Sunday afternoon...

for the wonderful Lady running for governor in Georgia. Of course we get into voting generally for all Democrats. I are only seeing people registered as Democrats and I am disappointed in the occasional one that is leaning away from the Dem ticket. I am in a very red area, so I must take that into consideration.

It really feels good and so does being with others on the same page as I am.

[LBM20]

6. Posting signs around town, lit drops, donations.

[Phoenix61]

7. Canvassing for Florida Dems. nt

[Timshel]

8. In Texas

I’m in Leander, Tx...just north of Austin. We’ve been hosting/running two phone banks a week for BETO since July, and starting on Oct 22 through Election Day our house is a pop up office where phone banks/block walks will be run every three hours from 9AM to 9PM. 😊 We’re in it to win it 🌊

[grantcart]

10. Sounds like you are having fun

Isn't that against the rules

[Timshel]

16. LOL

LOL, it’s actually been hugely cathartic and heartening.... 90% of the people coming through our doors have never been politically active in their lives... and they all understand that the work does not stop after this midterm.....gives me an enormous amount of hope for the future.

[Dem_4_Life]

36. Awesome job. I'm doing texting and office staff for Beto HQ 2-3 x a week.

Everyday I take donations and help people sign up to volunteer. So many people who have never done anything political. Saturday we had about 5-6 people from out of state come in to make donations and but merchandize. Plus this amazing moment when a man walked in after coming from the airport. He FLEW IN from Virginia to go block walking for Beto for 4 days!!! And I talk to people every day about voting.

[Timshel]

38. YES!!

How awesome is that?! My field organizer said there are phone banks going on across the country! And that people were coming in from all over the country to canvass for him, so I’m super glad to hear that! The energy level in this campaign is amazing, and they almost have more volunteers than they know what to do with. My heart will break if he doesn’t win this thing given the enormous effort that’s being put in! But if I start to think about that I get depressed, so I’m just concentrating on the GOTV effort....and November 6 will come soon enough... ❤️✌🏻

[grantcart]

9. MOVE ON, DSCC and as of yesterday. AFL CIO canvasser

AFL has the best technology, give you a smart phone and you follow the map. Hate phoning, rest on Sunday

Of course the real answer to your thread is that those that are doing the most aren't on DU to respond.

[LAS14]

11. We've...

... budgeted $600/month each month through November. We stored up our charity budget until September, waiting for the election.

Each campaign cycle we've phone banked, but I don't think I, personally, have ever gotten to talk with anyone. My husband has two or three times. Does it really help?

We live in Mass, so it remains to be seen where we'll get tied in. Normally it's New Hampshire. We used to canvass there, but hubbies knees no longer allow it.

[bearsfootball516]

12. Canvass for Joe Donnelly a few times each week.

I'm also my precinct chair.

[qwlauren35]

13. Not much, but something - www.postcardstovoters.org

My mom died a little while ago and I don't have the energy to participate much, so this is what I can do.

Plus I'll be an election judge on Nov 6th.

On Facebook, I share the following with everyone i know:
- [link:http://www.rockthevote.org] - voter registration
- [link:http://www.vote411.org|] - voter education
- [link:http://postcardstovoters.org|] - Democrat voter participation

It's not much, but it's something.

Ideas of things to do - if you're into writing, write letters and articles in magazines and newsletters. If you're good at speaking, go to nursing homes, senior aging communities, and other places where people can't get out. Get them registered and get them absentee ballots. You can also go to neighborhood council meetings, homeowners association meetings. Register people to vote, and give them voter information. If you're well informed, you can answer questions. Or you can set up a computer and show them vote411.org or balletopedia.org. You can go to nightclubs and give 1 minute public service messages. Or hand out flyers at the door for people to read while they are waiting to get in - then collect them back to recycle.

Get creative. It's the 21st century.

[grantcart]

18. Sorry to hear about your mother.

[qwlauren35]

20. Thank you.

I appreciate your sympathy. It's been a rough year.

[JimGinPA]

19. Sorry About Your Mom

I'm an election judge too. I'm also going to nursing homes the Friday before the election to collect & tabulate their ballots.

[qwlauren35]

21. Thank you also

for your sympathy. It feels warm and fuzzy in a sea of prickles.

[meow2u3]

14. Canvassing for Pennsylvania Dems

[JimGinPA]

33. I Canvassed In Lancaster Co. In '08

And in 2012 before I had my accident. I wish I still able to, as I prefer it to phone banking. I also registered a whole lot of voters in '08. I was a poll watcher & saw several people I registered come in to vote. That was really personally rewarding.

[mcar]

15. I see many DUers talking about their efforts

I helped to found a Democratic Women's Club chapter in my red FL county. In one year, we have doubled our membership. We host local and state candidates, sponsor fundraisers and GOTV events and work with the other Democratic clubs in the county to GOTV!

[lunatica]

17. I've been donating quite a bit to Democrats in tight races in other states

As much as I can actually, and now, because elections are so close I’m donating more.

[phylny]

22. Hand writing postcards for VA-05 & VA-06.

[eleny]

23. Two of us here

[Danmel]

24. I am a local Democratic committee woman

I am out canvassing, knocking in doors, phone banking and fundraising. Pretty much every day. Have been doing this since 2004.

[Onward AND Upward]

25. PLEASE HELP Spread This Message...How To Increase Voter Turnout AND Stop Vote Tampering

Hello To All,

This is my first post, sorry to be shouting and short on intro, but I need to get this info to someone who can immediately start a thread on WHY we need to URGENTLY spread this far and wide, (I cant, until I've posted 10 replies), and maybe get the Mods to pin the info , to Breaking News and Gen Discussions (if that's allowed). Here goes:

During the Aug 3rd Realtime With Bill Maher show, he interviewed an African American gentleman by the name of Malcolm Nance (former Navy, security analyst and commentator) [link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Nance|
When Bill asked him how we Dems can overcome the potential RIGGED election Mr Nance gave the following solution:

Tell voters to use absentee ballots and send them in EARLY.

I had NO idea that ALL states have absentee ballots available to EVERYONE. Here's the kicker, according to [link:https://www.vote.org/absentee-voting-rules/| :

What is Absentee Voting?

Absentee voting (aka “mail-in voting” and “by-mail voting”) is conducted by mail-in ballot before the day of Election Day. All states will mail a ballot to voters if certain conditions are met. The voter may return the ballot in person or by mail. Some states will let voters apply for an absentee ballot in person before Election Day and then vote the ballot that same day.

Twenty one states require voters to provide an excuse for voting by absentee ballot.
Twenty seven states and the District of Columbia offer no-excuse absentee voting.

If you look up each individual states rules (the ones that require an excuse) you'll see that they can be as easy as "I wont be near my polling place on election day" so I need an absentee ballot.

Key point #1: This will enable anyone whose state requires them to physically show up at a polling location, to vote at home, when convenient, and mail it in (must have adequate postage and follow their states rules for getting it filled out and returned). Think about all the single Mothers, elderly, sick, busy, people who cant stand out in the snow/rain for hours, or have a polling place that's miles away and dont have a car. This makes voting MUCH easier.

Key Point #2: These votes will create a paper trail that can be AUDITED in the event of a recount. This would defeat the lack of a paper trail in the digital machines some states use.

I called my local talk radio station and got this on the air. The hosts agreed that Mr Nance's idea is great. Since time is running so close to election day, I thought everyone here, from all the various states, could spread the word, as people need to get their requests in ASAP.

So, Can someone take this and run with posting it? Thoughts?

~Rosie

[Onward AND Upward]

27. More info and comments from people already on this...

Link to tweet

Some are stating they're worried ballots will be thrown away, but there are some reassuring answers about how they're handled.

Can DU spread the word also? If votes are turned in early people can call their registrar's office to check that their ballot was counted. Also, you can check if your ballot was counted on vote.org

~Rosie

[sheshe2]

28. Hey Rosie.

Welcome to DU.

Love Nance.

Late and I have to go. Will be back tomorrow to see about spreading the word. Late night is not the best time for readers.

[Onward AND Upward]

34. Thanks sheshe2, for the warm welcome :) nt

[Rhiannon12866]

31. Welcome to DU, Rosie! And thanks for the positive and helpful information!

We've been more than a little down here lately, as you can imagine, so the encouragement is helpful - we need to start looking forward now. It's great to have you with us!

[Onward AND Upward]

35. Thanks for the welcome Rhiannon! I hear you...

...About feeling down. I've been alternating between primal screams, tears, and non-stop cussing (dogs hide and sailors blush). Finally, Friday night, I realized how much of my precious time and energy was being wasted, because I was not in control of my reactions to the evil we are facing. I decided as of Friday, not to allow Rump & co. to rattle my cage TIME IS SHORT. We MUST maintain FOCUS on getting out the vote.

Everyone must realize that the Rump & Repugnants are using our addiction to social media and the news to TERRORIZE and distract us, so they can win the election. We must say "No, I refuse to get emotionally engaged in the latest outrageous story." Each time I want to read another clickbait story, I stop myself, and instead, take ACTION on getting out the vote, or daily tasks of living.

[Rhiannon12866]

37. Sounds like a good plan - but it's also tough to do

I feel that I should be informed, so I watch a lot of news, but it really is tough to take these days. Trump is so offensive that during the campaign I got so I had to change the channel. I figured that after it was over I'd never have to see or hear from him again - my mistake!

And I still feel that way, Trump has totally taken over the airwaves. We no longer hear about newsworthy stories, events in other countries, weather events, even the celebrity news that I used to hate. Every single day it's all Trump all the time - between the offensive things he says and does and the latest scandal, there's no time for anything else - and of course that gets ratings.

GOTV is definitely the way to go - doing something positive. I've worked on three congressional campaigns, these days voting is just not enough. And DU has been my online home since early 2003, it's not only the best place to get news, but it helps to know that you're not alone. So welcome! I'm so very glad that you found us!

[murielm99]

29. Precinct committee person here.

I am canvassing for two state and one Congressional candidate. I register people to vote.

Phone banking and letter writing will be this week. It has been raining too heavily to go door-to-door this weekend.

[sagesnow]

30. Canvassing for Axne for Congress and Hubbell for Governor here in IA.

Will be knocking doors right up to election day. The contact with fellow dems and the exercise are the only things that keep me sane right now.

[femmedem]

32. Canvassed this weekend. Donated. Posted on fb about who I support and why.

Even if you don't want to canvas or phone bank, you can find someone who might not vote and bring that one person to vote with you. I spoke to one acquaintance who said he isn't political, asked around, found out that his landlady registered him to vote and is bringing him to the polls.

Canvassing is great--I always canvas--but convincing a few people you know or bringing even one peron who might otherwise not vote to the polls with you is probably the most efficient way to GOTV.