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In close campaigns, from the presidential race to your local city council contest, who the winner is comes down to turnout. That’s why campaigns dedicate so many resources to Get Out The Vote, or GOTV, in this final stretch. They are trying to get potential voters not to stay home.
The best form of voter contact is knocking doors. For those who can’t canvass, phone banking and texting are options, but the simple truth is that they aren’t as effective as face-to-face conversation. Go to mobilize.us [ [link removed] ] to sign up for a shift near you.
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If you haven’t knocked doors before, I know it can sound intimidating. But, take it from someone who’s knocked hundreds of doors, if not thousands, over the course of three incredibly tough campaigns: it’s easy, it’s fun, and most importantly, it really does make a difference.
Here are my tried-and-true canvassing tips that will prepare you for any situation:
Knock loud; be proud. Your first instinct might be to knock softly, hoping that the person isn’t home. Absolutely not! Think about it: if there were a fire and you were trying to rescue your neighbor, would you quietly tap on their door? You are saving democracy. Pound on that door.
Dropping lit ain’t it. Lit dropping is not canvassing. You leave campaign literature if the person isn’t home, but dropping lit does not win campaigns. You want to have a real conversation. So, walk up to that door, hope they’re home, and knock really loudly.
The ask is the task. If you go spend ten minutes talking to someone and you leave without saying, “Will you vote for Kamala Harris and Democrats,” guess what we have to ultimately do? Ask again. It’s not enough to feel like you had a good conversation. Just make the ask.
Don’t fear; bring the cheer! Much like teenagers—and I speak from experience—voters can sense your fear. And if they sense fear, they will prey on you. You might be asked tough questions, but the harder the question gets, the bigger your smile has to be.
We need to do everything we can from now until polls close to elect people who share our values. Sign up at mobilize.us [ [link removed] ], lace up those shoes, and bring a friend. You’ll feel amazing the morning after Election Day knowing you did your part for our democracy.
I’ll see you out there!
Katie Porter
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