Hi Rosemary, that's right - 34% of *eligible* voters didn't vote in 2020 - i.e., citizens 18 years or older who aren't barred from voting because of past felony convictions, depending on the laws in their state (California recently changed the laws to allow all citizens who are not currently incarcerated to vote, even if they are on parole, etc.) The main point is that we are leaving a lot of votes on the table. Rather than only chasing down the elusive swing voters, I really devote a lot of time to engaging with people who start off saying, "I don't vote."
Just tonight (out with the trick-or-treaters), I spoke with one young man who said he was 0/10 on voting and didn't like slick career politicians. But he was intrigued by the local candidate for community college board and her plan to expand vocational training opportunities locally. By the end, he was 3/10 on voting, and said I'd given him a lot to think about. I also slid in a reference to how we needed Congressional representation (i.e., the Democratic candidate, Rudy Salas), to bring home tax dollars to help support those efforts.
Thank you for all *your* work, Rosemary! And let's go talk with even more voters before November 5! :)
Hi William, Belated thanks for your very kind and heartfelt words. Thanks for all the amazing canvassing you did - I know how heartbreaking the results are. I agree, the struggle continues - and also, my experience is that these conversations with voters are a key part of the way forward. It also has helped deepen my belief in the goodness of others through actually have in-depth conversations with so many people. That in itself is worth the effort! I appreciate being in community with so many other volunteers like you. Thanks so much for all your hard work, and your willingness to continue these efforts in the time to come.
Hi John, Belated thanks for your kind words and thoughtful observations. I'm glad that you were able to engage in some relational organizing with some of the Republicans in your life. I think those ongoing conversations are going to be more needed than ever as we move forward. Hope you are taking care of yourself in these difficult days. Thanks again for taking the time to comment on this post.
Hi Jan, Thanks so much for your kind and inspiring words, and my apologies for the delayed response. I'm so glad to hear that you had some incredible conversations with local college students, as well as high-potential voters in swing states. I agree, some of the things that others may take for granted are really helpful to discuss with so many folks! Thanks for all your hard work and your generous spirit of engagement!
Whoo hoo - that is amazing! Hope your conversations with voters are fruitful, and bring you great joy! Thanks for all you continue to do! Abrazos, Elizabeth
Thank you for writing this. I found your post through Jessica Craven's Chop Wood Carry Water newsletter. (I'm a bit behind because I have been canvassing every day.) On the day after the election, I'm fighting back tears as I realize how hard we worked and still lost. Your post is helping me see that this isn't over, that we just have to get back out there and talk to more voters. Thanks for all that you do.
Bless all of you who go out and have real conversations with voters and enable more votes for Salas and Democratic Congresspersons. We lost Jeff Jackson from Congress this year because of partisan gerrymandering swallowed whole by the NC legislature Republicans. Hopefully his campaign for NC Attorney General as "a normal person" will bring more "normal people" to the polls instead of people who have been suckered into the cult by repeated propaganda by the Mango Mussolini TV personna. Many Trumpsters are actually "normal persons:" who have been captivated by the confident style. They just don't pick of the lack of substance except loyalty. It is a lot like religion/cult and what is the difference. The TV show pictured him as decisive, and that is a powerful appeal/need for voters. Good luck. Hope I helped a little with an appeal to Republicans I know. Love, Doc
Very inspiring. I've had some amazing conversations lately while encouraging students on our local college campus to take advantage of the early voting location there, and while calling not-yet voters in swing states. Sometimes the stuff we think everybody knows is exactly what they need to hear to make them want to vote!
Hi Rosemary, that's right - 34% of *eligible* voters didn't vote in 2020 - i.e., citizens 18 years or older who aren't barred from voting because of past felony convictions, depending on the laws in their state (California recently changed the laws to allow all citizens who are not currently incarcerated to vote, even if they are on parole, etc.) The main point is that we are leaving a lot of votes on the table. Rather than only chasing down the elusive swing voters, I really devote a lot of time to engaging with people who start off saying, "I don't vote."
Just tonight (out with the trick-or-treaters), I spoke with one young man who said he was 0/10 on voting and didn't like slick career politicians. But he was intrigued by the local candidate for community college board and her plan to expand vocational training opportunities locally. By the end, he was 3/10 on voting, and said I'd given him a lot to think about. I also slid in a reference to how we needed Congressional representation (i.e., the Democratic candidate, Rudy Salas), to bring home tax dollars to help support those efforts.
Thank you for all *your* work, Rosemary! And let's go talk with even more voters before November 5! :)
Hi William, Belated thanks for your very kind and heartfelt words. Thanks for all the amazing canvassing you did - I know how heartbreaking the results are. I agree, the struggle continues - and also, my experience is that these conversations with voters are a key part of the way forward. It also has helped deepen my belief in the goodness of others through actually have in-depth conversations with so many people. That in itself is worth the effort! I appreciate being in community with so many other volunteers like you. Thanks so much for all your hard work, and your willingness to continue these efforts in the time to come.
Hi John, Belated thanks for your kind words and thoughtful observations. I'm glad that you were able to engage in some relational organizing with some of the Republicans in your life. I think those ongoing conversations are going to be more needed than ever as we move forward. Hope you are taking care of yourself in these difficult days. Thanks again for taking the time to comment on this post.
Hi Jan, Thanks so much for your kind and inspiring words, and my apologies for the delayed response. I'm so glad to hear that you had some incredible conversations with local college students, as well as high-potential voters in swing states. I agree, some of the things that others may take for granted are really helpful to discuss with so many folks! Thanks for all your hard work and your generous spirit of engagement!
Whoo hoo - that is amazing! Hope your conversations with voters are fruitful, and bring you great joy! Thanks for all you continue to do! Abrazos, Elizabeth
Thank you for writing this. I found your post through Jessica Craven's Chop Wood Carry Water newsletter. (I'm a bit behind because I have been canvassing every day.) On the day after the election, I'm fighting back tears as I realize how hard we worked and still lost. Your post is helping me see that this isn't over, that we just have to get back out there and talk to more voters. Thanks for all that you do.
Bless all of you who go out and have real conversations with voters and enable more votes for Salas and Democratic Congresspersons. We lost Jeff Jackson from Congress this year because of partisan gerrymandering swallowed whole by the NC legislature Republicans. Hopefully his campaign for NC Attorney General as "a normal person" will bring more "normal people" to the polls instead of people who have been suckered into the cult by repeated propaganda by the Mango Mussolini TV personna. Many Trumpsters are actually "normal persons:" who have been captivated by the confident style. They just don't pick of the lack of substance except loyalty. It is a lot like religion/cult and what is the difference. The TV show pictured him as decisive, and that is a powerful appeal/need for voters. Good luck. Hope I helped a little with an appeal to Republicans I know. Love, Doc
Very inspiring. I've had some amazing conversations lately while encouraging students on our local college campus to take advantage of the early voting location there, and while calling not-yet voters in swing states. Sometimes the stuff we think everybody knows is exactly what they need to hear to make them want to vote!
We're phone banking every day including day of! Keep up your great work and mission!
I stand corrected! You wrote 34% did not vote in 2020. And I fact checked it :) Thank you for your work!!