I don’t know about you but I’ve been nervous, which isn’t all that fun. America’s election is a month away. Luckily, there are things to do about it, and no, I don’t mean sit frozen in dread on the sofa although that is an alternative. In case you are also nervous, here’s a list of Six Things You Can Do (as well as confessions about the things I can’t do.) Please feel free to add other resources.
- Write letters to individuals encouraging them to vote. Vote Forward has a great program with a simple on-line interface that lets you “adopt” voters from all over the country. You download their addresses and letters that ask you only to fill in one part, “I vote because…” You can write anything you believe that isn’t partisan. Perfect for introverts. I adopted 20 voters in Ohio, and in fact have found it excruciatingly hard–I laugh at myself as I write–because any writing requires my whole brain to start whirring and that’s a real process. But I’m almost done. I know people who’ve mailed 300+ of these, and t’s not too late; letters can be sent up to October 29th. Take a look here.
- Donate. ActBlue has revolutionized small donor fundraising. You can give to any Democratic candidate and any region, or to baskets of candidates, or other supported fundraising groups. For example;). I focus on the youth vote, figuring that it’s undercounted and needs encouragement, by giving to Voters of Tomorrow, here. But you can find something that speaks to your particular heart, just poke around the site. Doing this is a good way to feel zero guilt when you delete the 600th donation request text of the day, and it’s really fun to watch the total donations numbers on their home page grow and grow.
- Buy stuff. You can find merchandise galore to support chosen causes and candidates. For reasons that will become apparent, I’m sending you here.
- Canvass. I like to do this with my sister, otherwise I cannot. Don’t get me wrong, organizations will pair you with someone experienced, and you only knock on doors where the voters will be receptive to your cause, but it takes so much effort for me to gear myself up to push that Nest doorbell it’s clear this is not my space. If it’s yours, particularly if you have a family member or a friend to invite along, Swing Left and its local chapters do phenomenal work. Highly recommended.
- Phone and text banking. Phone banking makes my heartbeat head off to lands unknown. If you’re more robust than I, let me applaud you with all my being and suggest Swing Left again. However, I do love to call people on Election Day to help them find their polling place, because you’re useful to the person on the other end of the line. And text banking is much easier. Swing Left allows you to find the action that suits your temperament and schedule.
- Register voters. Ding ding ding! I love this! I have done it outside a supermarket, and on a college campus. For some reason, my particular kind of extroversion works best when no thought is required; just surrender to the impulse to connect. Mobilize! can recommend similar opportunities in your area. I am telling you, young people are on it. Sign up, and someone contacts you in advance to explain everything. A similar group of similar volunteers will gather at the defined location, and a leader will explain the onsite process once more.
So, if you have favorite organizations, please link them in the comments. If all your fund-raising and/or volunteering energy is used up by the tragedy in North Carolina, I understand. I’ll only say that if we want a compassionate and supportive country for everyone, we have to set the example by doing things. If this post is about anything, it’s about doing stuff that’s hard because you know it’s necessary.
Exhortation complete. Have a wonderful weekend. Oh, and the magnolias and roses above are to thank you for your attention. The roses are past their prime, but they count.
12 Responses
I ask almost every woman I meet if she is registered to vote and has an ID and voting plan. If she’s not registered, I send her to my state’s registration site, but Vote.org works all over the US.
I am also writing and leaving post-it notes in the ladies’ rooms, telling women their vote is private and asking them to protect their daughter’s rights.
Annette, I follow you on Facebook, as you know, and your posts about your days inspire me. You are fighting the good fight. It has been said, “When we fight, we win:)” Thank you!
You can run the risk of being prosecuted in Texas for registering voters if not done exactly the right way–and that is always changing!
I HAVE worked telephoning for a political campaign in the past (Obama’s–both elections) and it was gratifying. The campaign had volunteers from Texas calling prospective voters in Florida–to make sure they knew the location of their voting places.
Yes, I have a feeling of dread.
Wow. Texans really have to fight. So hard. Thank you for telephoning. Wonderful that you did that. The dread is awful, and let’s hope we can persevere.
The complicated rules about registering voters in Texas are all a part of trying to suppress certain votes. We know that. Other states have the same strictures. It is an assault on our democracy.
I am going to look for avenues for volunteering for the Harris/Walz campaign.
I digress from the topic but are your roses in the water?
Inquiring florist.
Digress away:). They are! Long stems at this time of year. They were a little browned when I snipped them off the bush. They’re Icebergs, but I’m guess as a florist you can tell that. Have I committed a Secret Floral Faux Pas? Do magnolias kill roses in proximity?
You can go to a candidate’s website and find opportunities for volunteering. One thing you do if you are averse to canvassing or phone banking is text banking. It helps the campaign gather data about who is registered and if they are supporting the candidate. I am text banking in GA since it is a swing state, and we are urging voters to check their registration. It is possible for voters to get dropped so we don’t want that to happen. Go to fairfight.com if you are interested in doing this.
I agree, using your energy to help get out the vote beats spinning your wheels while worrying. Lisa, thank you for this post!
Oh, yes, thanks for the reminder about the candidate websites! If you know who you want to support, this is an excellent vehicle. Checking registration in swing states is critical. You are welcome for the post, in turn, thank you for your text banking!
My husband spends every weekend going door to door in Pennsylvania (nearest swing state to New Jersey), talking to voters and encouraging like-minded ones to vote. I phone bank on Election Day Eve and then during the day itself, reminding known supporters to go to the polls.
My husband’s favorite doorway conversation was with a gruff PA man who said, “I’m a lifelong Republican, but I have two daughters, so I’m voting Democrat this year to support their rights!”
I love the notion of post-in notes in ladies’ rooms – speaking as a “woman over fifty” who damn well “cares about abortion.” It’s amazing how clueless some men can be…
Please convey my sincere thanks to your husband! Thanks to you too! I love hearing that people are phone-banking. Absolutely love it. Along with the stories of Republicans with daughters. They can be as gruff as they like, right?, but in the end when it’s personal I hope they make the choice that gives women rights.
I have been calling for state legislative candidates via Sister District for several years. (There are races every year. Thanks, Virginia.) I was not a natural for telephoning but got over it and I know it makes a difference.