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As a volunteer coordinator for my district, our goal since last year was to come up with enough volunteers to be able to cover the entire 42 precincts in our district. Well, that didn't happen, and despite the work of some very devoted people, I am left going into early vote and E-Day with only thirty volunteers who will be able to help me with getting the vote out for all of our top candidates (congress, senate and governor) as well as a very important local race for our state assembly (all politics is local).
Now for the 'inspiring story' part:
My district is mostly middle to low income, including a large college student population (UNR). At a recent gathering that was highly advertised and was meant to round up more volunteers for districts throughout our county, in my district, only two people showed up. Two people. I was devastated. In another district -- the wealthiest and heaviest Republican area in our city -- has more volunteers than they need to handle the Democrats registered there. So, one of their team leaders told me about these two women in their district who have second homes outside the state, one in California and one in the East Coast. They're currently out of town, but were available to make phone calls. At first I was skeptical with the offer, knowing how hard it has been to find volunteers to adopt a phone bank night, walk, etc. I agreed, thinking, well, I doubt they'll call me.
Within two days of this discussion, both ladies have called me. One, who is 80 years old, is taking a list of 150 voters from one highly targeted precinct and the other is taking a list of 400 voters! These ladies are compassionate! Relentless! Inspiring! They both are temporarily living in areas that are blue and they feel their efforts can be better placed toward helping us in areas that really need to GOTV. Today on the phone, I told one of these ladies that she was an angel. I just couldn't believe her positive attitude, her desire to contact voters in one of our low-income, heavily Democratic areas where voters just do not get out and vote. I am so grateful for the efforts of these two women. They will help our cause tremendously. I am also so thankful for the team leader who sent me these two angels -- volunteers are a hot commodity I have learned, and that was so kind of her to lend me two of her best.
So, GOTV!
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