What can we do in Texas to help Kerry/Edwards win?

[DaveSZ]

Have any of you guys gone to battleground states to volunteer?

[whistle]

1. Just vote for Kerry/Edwards....

...and if possible persuade others to do the same

[wurzel]

2. Talk about Bush's doings as Texas governor.

How did he finance his ball team. How did he get that stadium built. What happened in the privatization of Texas University. Bush hasn't changed since he went to Washington.

[Gman]

3. Work on GOTV

(get out the vote) because even though Bush is very likely to take Texas, a high Democratic turnout can really help the down ballot races ESPECIALLY the legislature races.

[sonias]

4. I agree this one is the most important

If you have time to work in the swing states that's fantastic and please do. Louisiana right next door is a swing state. But we need to think long term for our state as well. What will really help Kerry/Edwards is holding our ground in the Texas Congressional races, and starting to take this state back from the repukes. So a huge get out the vote effort and new voter registrations are the ticket.

Here in Travis County we're working on a coordinated campaign to work for the whole party ticket. Maximum use of volunteers that way.

Keep the faith!

Sonia

[texastoast]

5. Register 18+-year-olds

I have found the college age groups to be very receptive to registering and tend to be pro-Kerry (yes, even many from A&M!).

If there is enough registration going on, I think we have a chance of delivering Texas.

Nothing would please me more than to hand Texas to Kerry. Dreaming? Maybe, but giving up is not an option.

[DaveSZ]

6. I am that age (young)

I've registered many of my friends and my brother!

I don't know what else to do.

:argh:

I just want to help us win because it's about our future, and I don't want to live in a country where we lose all our freedoms.

[crispini]

7. There's no reason why..

you can't travel to a swing state once or twice AND work here as well.

Good resource for travelling: www.drivingvotes.com. There is an active Texas group planning stuff now.

Resources for working locally... you don't say where you are... there is a LOT of activity going on in Dallas area right now. Figure out how to hook up with a dem organization in your area and there will be PLENTY of opportunities. I just tonight got back from an event where we registered over 150 voters. Wooo!

Think about organizing your precinct. Here is my precinct plan. You can adapt to your precinct. Let me know if you want the documents that go with it.

Good luck!
- C

PRECINCT PLAN

Note: This document has 4 accompanying documents: Phone Bank Script, Precinct Packet, Canvassing Script, and Canvassing Blank.

1. Get informed about the precinct you live in / want to organize.
What precinct do you live in? http://www.dalcoelections.org
Who is your precinct chair? Call them. Are they active, do they want to do organizing? Check the Dallas County Democratic party website at http://www.dallasdemocrats.org, click on "Precinct Chair."
Read the Precinct Chair manual, http://www.dallasdemocrats.org, click on "Precinct Chair" then "Precinct Chair Manual." If there is no PC or if they are not interested in organizing – there is the opportunity! Call the Dallas County Democratic Party (DCDP) and ask them about your precinct. Do they want you to work the precinct or is it a very "Red" precinct and would your time be better spent elsewhere? If they want you to work the precinct, they can give you a printout of all registered voters in the precinct, with addresses and phone numbers.

2. Prepare yourself.
If you've never phone banked before, spend a Saturday afternoon down at the DCDP so you'll get the hang of it. If you've never canvassed before, sign up with the Frost campaign and go canvass with them so you'll know how it's done. Customize materials to fit your precinct.

3. Get some help. (Phone bank round 1)
Who in the area can help you? Do you already know some residents in the precinct that you can recruit to help you phone bank? If not, start phone banking yourself, to find your own volunteers! (See "phone bank script" document). The printout from the DCDP will have boxes to check for the phone bank script. You also want to recruit organizers for your own precinct effort (as well as finding out about the issues that undecideds are interested in, people who want signs, etc).
Create lists of:
All Democrats
Your volunteers
People who will absentee voting / vote by mail
People who need rides to the polls

4. Educate and train your volunteers. (Coffee klatch)
Some people might get intimidated if they are asked to phone bank or canvass right off. Maybe it's best to start off with a "get acquainted" breakfast or meeting. There you can talk about the precinct plan. Prepare a "precinct packet" document with information about the elections, and other materials. Possibly have a candidate in to speak. Stress to the volunteers how important local elections are.

5. More phone bank
Use your new volunteers to finish your precinct list. At some point you will need to turn your precinct list back into the DCDP. But KEEP COPIES!

6. Canvass
The precinct lists don't have unregistered voters on them. Therefore you do not have their phone numbers. So, it's time to go house-to-house to find them. Don't visit anyone you've called. (See "canvass script "document.) Register Democrats! Recruit volunteers! Give out materials for county-wide and other local races.

7. Reminder Phone Bank: Absentee Voters
Absentee voters can send in the request for ballots anytime after Labor Day. So, using your list of voters who have said they will probably vote absentee / by mail, call them up after Labor Day and remind them to request their ballots!

8. Reminder Phone Bank: Time To Vote!
Anytime after early voting starts, up to Election Day, give EVERYONE a call and remind them to get out to vote. Let them know where they can early vote and where their precinct is.

9. Rides to Polls
Is this something you can coordinate in your precinct? That'd be great. Using your list of voters who need a ride to the polls, take them there!

10. Celebrate Victory!
And a pat on the back to everyone! Attend a party together or throw one in your neighborhood.

[boot@9]

8. Don't give up.

Vote. Donate. Volunteer. Contact county chair. Host a house party. Can do all the above for local Democractic candidates.