As we all know, turnout is crucial this fall. We cannot afford another 2010 and we absolutely cannot afford to have the Senate dominated by Republicans. So, this is the first diary in a series to help spur more turnout. I welcome networking, ideas, success and failure stores, selfies and anything else people want to share.
We are very fortunate that our first guest writer is our very own Eclectablog who as we know is quite an experienced political activist. These are the steps that he recommends to build very grassroots infrastructure for precincts in your area. For more about his experience and recommendations for gotv, please see below the fold.
1. Pick reasonably sized chunks of your county for a team to be responsible for. It should be a challenge but not so intimidating that it freaks people out and demotivates them.
2. Make it easy for them to organize. Help them with premade documents, training, and one-on-one coaching. The stuff our group created looked a lot like the stuff we got from OFA because, why wouldn't it? It WORKED!
3. Make sure the teams all meet together as a group from time to time to share ideas, socialize, and have some fun. This is so important because it lets groups know they are part of something bigger and that they aren't alone.
4. Always recognize that a personal contact is orders of magnitude more effective than anything you will ever do online. In person contact is best, on the phone is next. Anything else barely registers.
ACTIONS of the month. One of the features I plan to offer are simple action steps that are easy for people to do that will really help. To paraphrase the Godfather, vote and you'll feel better!.
IN THE FLESH ACTIVISM: Please consider calling the campaign office for a candidate you admire and support. Someone who inspires you. Someone who gives you hope for the future as you watch your kids, your grandkids, your friends and other loved ones. Make the call and see what you can do.
HOUSE MEETING IN A BOX. If you want a template of the House meeting in a box as explained by Eclecablog, please email him at eclectablog@gmai.com
VIRTUAL VOTEGETTER: Please repost this link from Rock the Vote in as many places as possible. It has state by state info on how to register online, how to confirm that registration and how to vote absentee. Absentee voting could, of course be crucial in areas like Ohio that are trying to suppress the vote. And it is important to note this from, of all places, the Florida page about absentee voting. "A person does not have to be absent from his or her county of residence or have another reason to vote absentee." Please of course check your own state regulations. http://www.rockthevote.com/....
And this is a link to the second diary in the series. Obviously schools are going on summer break, so for now, please consider volunteering for voter registration drives through your local Democratic party. I am planning for our next diary which may be about how to help register folks at farmer's markets..."Would you like a vote with that vegetable?" http://www.dailykos.com/...