We’re no longer actively fundraising for Nov 8, but there’s still a lot you can do to influence the outcome!
Below is a slightly edited request for canvassers (or phone bankers) from Voters Not Politicians:
“We really need you right now.
We are at the official two week mark before Election Day. From here on out it is imperative that we turn out as many voters as possible for Proposal 2 and pro-voter candidates.
If even 300 people reading this email complete one canvassing shift before Election Day, we would contact an additional 13,500 pro-democracy voters. Legislative districts can be won by fewer than 5,000 votes!
We are trying to contact voters who usually miss midterm elections, which means unless a Voters Not Politicians volunteer talks to them personally, these Michiganders are unlikely to vote in this election. With democracy on the ballot, we cannot afford to let any voter sit this election ouBarry, you and I both know that not everyone reading this email will help us reach voters before Election Day. But we can still make a huge impact with your help.
Every vote and every voter matters in this election, and every door you knock will make a difference for democracy. So
So sign up to canvass. Sign up to phone bank.
Sign up to let voters know: Democracy is on the ballot.
Voters are counting on you… And so are we.
Kim Murphy-Kovalick
State Programs Director
Voters Not Politicians
WaterGirl
Obviously you need to be in Michigan in order to canvas, but anyone can do phone banking.
I know getting the phone calls can be annoying, but I also think campaigns wouldn’t be pushing for people to make phone calls if they didn’t help.
Qrop Non Sequitur
Testing. Oh Watergirl thanks for helping.
Apologies to everyone earlier you had to miss my super hot takes when they were fresh
You like my new haircut? (This is Kropadope/ Kraux Pas/ Kropacetic)
WaterGirl
@Qrop Non Sequitur: By the time you posted this comment, I had just released a bunch of your messages from SPAM.
I marked you not spam, and I released them.
Qrop Non Sequitur
And I set aside a block of time Saturday for MA politicking. I’ll bookmark this to use some time for MI as well.
Mousebumples
I did some text banking last night with mobilize.us. Not tons to do, with most texts going out earlier in the day, but it felt like something. Planning on more, probably tomorrow night.
WaterGirl
@Qrop Non Sequitur: If you want an honest answer, I preferred your old ones! But I obviously don’t have to like it, and you do! :-)
CaseyL
I would bite the bullet and phone bank, but all the time slots are during my working hours.
(I confess that’s as much a relief as a disappointment. I have phone banked in the past, and the worst part isn’t talking to people who “proudly” don’t vote at all, it’s that hardly anyone even answers. And I can’t blame them, because I don’t answer calls when I don’t recognize the number.)
WaterGirl
@CaseyL: When I phone banked for Obama, I was always grateful when no one picked up because then I could just leave a message. :-)
Qrop Non Sequitur
@WaterGirl: Im sure it’ll change again. I already have two in the offing. Eta: And I think I’ll pre-warn you next time so I don’t spend a day in the hinterlands again.
@WaterGirl: I liked phone banking when I went to an office and dialed a phone. Auto dialer apps give me anxiety because of my time as a telemarketer.
tobie
I’ve been away from Balloon Juice for a few years. Real life ate into my digital life.
I’ve been phonebanking since the summer in NC and part of me wants to continue there through to the end but I realize my efforts may be better spent elsewhere. I had NV on my radar. Now I’m wondering if I should add MI too. NC folks are really nice on the phone. It’s one of the reasons I’ve spent the most time there.
mrmoshpotato
Any idea if the phone banking is calling people or texting?
WaterGirl
@tobie: Sorry you’ve been gone so long, but good to see you back!
I have no idea where the best place to spend your energy is but for what it’s worth, I do know there are BIG pushes in NV and WI.
WaterGirl
@mrmoshpotato: I am pretty sure that phone banking is CALLING.
frosty
@WaterGirl: I am the same – I hated phone banking and haven’t done it in years.
frosty
@WaterGirl: I am the same – I hated phone banking and haven’t done it in years.
Leaving a VM was so much easier than talking to someone.
frosty
Deleted.
Triplicate comments? FYWP!
mrmoshpotato
@WaterGirl: Ok. (Didn’t know “textbanking” was a term. h/t Mousebumples)
WaterGirl
@mrmoshpotato: I wasn’t yelling when I used all caps, honest!
wmd
I did a shift yesterday calling people in Pennsylvania. MoveOn has a campaign where people previously agreed to remind 3 other people to vote; those were the target.
There were about 85 of us working. we logged 69,500 calls in 2 hours. 1190 people committed to reminding 3 friends/family to vote. We also recruited 90 additional volunteers. I personally had about 60 calls, 40 of them hung up quickly, 10 committed to reminding 3 voters. 3 bizarre rants, 1 longer conversation that led to committing to vote.
I plan on another 2 hours on Monday, and possibly election day.
WaterGirl
@wmd: Wow, that could make a difference.
Plus, not having to persuade anyone is a big plus.
A lot of the late calling like this is NOT persuasion – they are making sure folks know their voting location etc.
That makes it 10x better.
CaseyL
@wmd: Wow. You and the MoveOn crew are troopers! I wonder if that ratio of responses is standard.
mrmoshpotato
@WaterGirl: No worries.
mrmoshpotato
@wmd: Good on ya!
Mousebumples
@mrmoshpotato: haha, here to help. I’ve done local phone banking and canvassing before – just not great for me at this point in my life, for a few reasons.
I figure it’s helpful to clarify phonecall vs text messages.
https://www.mobilize.us/?utm_source=mobilize&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=footer
If you want to do something, check that out. Lots of options to filter through, including virtual and in person options.
wmd
@CaseyL:
I’ve been phonebanking since the 2008 Obama primary campaign. The technology has matured a lot – now the dialing is done automatically. Lots of variation in the quality of the list, and this close to election day a lot of hang ups because the zone has been flooded and different GoTV campaigns have no way to know that a given voter received some number of previous calls from other workers.
I had about 60 minutes of active calling, equal time for chilling after weird calls or because 15 hang up calls in a row is demoralizing and taking a break lets you get your mojo back.
Scamp Dog
I just signed up for a phone banking shift to help out my home state of Michigan, 10:30 tomorrow morning. I’ll report how it goes afterwards.
WaterGirl
@Scamp Dog: Good for you! Actually, good for all of us!