EVERY vote counts! A good anecdote

[Wednesdays]

Let's not overlook a single voter to help throw out the Repukes!

I repeat the following story every election, to illustrate that (barring vote theft) everyone's vote counts and that even a tiny number of voters can turn an election. It also illustrates how GOTV begins at home.

One election a few years ago, I worked at my local Democratic headquarters manning the phone banks and helping new voters to register. One new voter I helped register was my brother-in-law, Rick, who had never voted even though he was well into his 30s. He was rather constantly ill with epilepsy and was still pretty much under his mother's care.

On Election Day I put in long hours at the headquarters, and retired for the night when the polls were about to close. My wife and I drove to her mother's place to watch the election results on TV with her family. When we got there, I was disappointed to hear that her brother-in-law hadn't gone and voted. You see, because of his epiliepsy he wasn't able to drive, and no one else there had a car.

Well, I offered to give him a ride to the polls. I said, "If we hurry, we might be able to make it" (it was four minutes before seven o'clock). He started waving us off, figuring it was too late...why bother...it's only one vote, yada, yada. After a short bit of prodding, he finally gave in. We piled in the car and rushed to the polls...Rick was THE last voter in his precinct--when we got in the building, the workers locked the door behind us. He cast his ballot and we headed back to his place. Much to my delight, he told us he cast a straight-Democratic ballot.

What happened then was stunning. The results for state senate came in: 50 Republicans won seats and 49 Democrats won seats. There was only one contest that was too close to call, and that was the one in Rick's district. After several re-counts, the results were official: the Democratic candidate won, by SIX VOTES. After everything, it turned out that Rick and five others had not only made the difference in an election, they denied the Repubs from gaining a majority in the state senate that year!

So, every vote DOES count! Call around, you never know who might need a lift to the polls.

An old girlfriend once was a foot-soldier for Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition (she saw through the sham and left them long before I met her). However, she kept some of the political literature and showed it to me. It was interesting reading the enemy's playbook. One of the things they emphasized most were GOTV tactics. These included:

A. Clear your schedule as much as possible on Election Day.

B. On Election Day:

Offer to baby-sit children of friends, so they can be free to get to the polls.

Offer rides to anyone with transportation restrictions (elderly, handicapped, etc.) to get to the polls.

Call everyone you think will vote Democratic. Call them twice--once early in the day and then again a couple of hours before the polls close.

GOTV from your desktop -- Email and text message Election Day reminders to everyone you know. Post Election Day reminders and info in your blogs and web pages.

And, of course, volunteer at your local Democratic headquarters. They will definitely need your help!

It's time to KICK REPUBLICAN ASS! :dem:

[mainegreen]

1. kick