Every little bit helps, even the lucky socks!

Thursday night, I spent a few hours calling Democrats in swing states. In the final stretch of election season, the point of calling people is not to convince them. The goal is to identify Harris voters and get them to make a plan to vote. Why? Because people who have a plan are more likely to vote. People who vote early also have time to resolve last-minute problems with their registration.

So, that’s the assignment: Talk to strangers. Find out if they are planning to vote. Will they vote for Harris? Give them polling information, if they need it. Encourage them to vote early. Complete the database notes and call the next person.

I may have increased the Harris votes in Georgia and Arizona. Maybe I got one extra vote, but every vote counts.

The ceremony of voting

My very first call was sort of a perfect first call. I did my thing: I established that she’ll be voting for Harris. What’s important to her is women’s healthcare and support for the working class. She will not vote early. Why? Because this is her first election, ever. She wants to vote in person with all the other people. She wants to stand in line. She wants to be part of it. I established that she knew where to go and that she had already rechecked her registration. Call done.

Talking to this voter, I wondered how many people have a sentimental attachment to be part of the event of voting.  Other people I spoke to have magical thinking about this. One woman voted absentee in 2016 and will not do it again. It felt to me like wearing lucky socks to the baseball game.

I remember my first election. It was a Presidential year. I remember the booth. I remember the smell (I was in a school gym!). Everyone went to the polling place on Election Day back then; there was no early voting, and absentee ballots required approval.

I remember the lines in 2008 and 2012. One of those times, I got a flu vaccine while I was waiting. There was a real community atmosphere in the hallway, up the stairs, and to the polling room.

I don’t remember other voting experiences. I just remember how I reacted to the national results.

There are eight days left. Will you do this one or more times this week?

Call, text, or email someone in a contested state and ask them if they are voting for Kamala Harris (or voting against Donald Trump).

If they are voting for Harris: Have they voted? If not, do they have a plan to vote. Get them to repeat the plan to you (that increases the chances of them doing it!).

If you prefer to talk to people you know, do that. If you are up for talking to strangers, it isn’t that hard, once you get started. If you join a phone bank or text bank, you will be connected to registered Democrats. You will not be arguing with people; the audience is generally friendly. 

Events.Democrats.org There are some phone banks that you can pop into anytime, and some with specific times. Lots of options at that site.

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