Election Day plan - what's most effective?

[RoxMonster]

Both DH and I have Election Day off (he is taking a vacation day, and I am a state employee and we get it off this year as a holiday). I'm trying to figure out what will be the most effective thing for us to do to help that day. He and I are both Democratic Precinct Committee People. This means we are not allowed to be election judges, so that is off the table.

Two years ago for the Midterm, we made phone calls to our precinct and then made some phone calls off the governor's call list all day. But so many were wrong numbers or disconnected, that I don't feel it was that productive. Before the pandemic, my plan had been to walk our precincts, knocking doors and reminding people to vote/leaving a little note in their door if they weren't home. I guess we could still leave the notes and just not knock?

I'm sure the local Dem party will have a phone list we can call, but again, I am not sure if that's what I want to do that day if I could be doing something that's more effective. Any thoughts for other people who have helped on Election Days? Or as a voter, what do you think would be most productive for getting people to the polls? Also, I feel like a lot of people are voting by mail or voting early this year, so then I'm wondering if I'm needed to do anything that day?

[konapoppy]

I did phone banking and texting on Election Day in 2018 and also felt it wasn’t the most effective (but it was really good when you did connect with people to thank them for voting!).

Are you in an area where you expect long lines? Could you have water and food to cheer people on or entertain them from a distance, or is that against the rules?

I signed up to be a poll worker, but it sounds like that is out for you.

[RoxMonster]

Sept 19, 2020 17:45:17 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

I did phone banking and texting on Election Day in 2018 and also felt it wasn’t the most effective (but it was really good when you did connect with people to thank them for voting!).

Are you in an area where you expect long lines? Could you have water and food to cheer people on or entertain them from a distance, or is that against the rules?

I signed up to be a poll worker, but it sounds like that is out for you.

Yeah we aren’t allowed to be poll workers. I could show up to my precinct’s polling place and bring some snacks for the election judges since it’s a long day. We are allowed to be poll watchers if we get credentials, though I’m not sure if that will be super effective. But I would be allowed to be there and I could maybe start out doing that in the morning.

[4speedy]

Sign up for phone banking right now. It’s the best way to be efficient and productive on Election Day. If you phone bank right now, it helps weed out the wrong numbers, Republicans, etc. I t will clean up the list so that the right calls are made to remind people to vote on the actual day. Also, this year especially, phone banking helps get info to people about HOW to vote.

[jaycee]

Could you call a local retirement community and offer rides to the polls? Maybe they would be mostly republicans though. Also may be a bad idea due to Covid.

Going door to door to remind people to vote on Election Day seems futile to me. It’s a week day when many people will be working and voting by mail will be so popular this year that hopefully a big percentage will have already voted.

[curbsideprophet]

Some things our local Dem party has said they need volunteers for include


-Poll Greeter
-Poll Runner - Runners visit several polling sites, several times on election day, to ask how many have voted so far. They call the number back to the office so we have data on which precincts need to still vote. A Runner submits their voter registration or full name, address, phone and email so the Board of Elections can give them credentials to be inside the polling locations.
-Giving Rides to the Polls
-Yard Signs - putting out candidate signs late the night before or early morning of the election at various polling locations

[RoxMonster]

Thanks for all the ideas! Leading up to the election, we are door dropping (in non-pandemic years, we knock), sample ballots and info about early voting, voting by mail, etc. to our precincts. We typically go out every weekend. But so far, I was at a loss for what to do on the actual Election Day and I don't want to just sit at home and do nothing. I can also ask our Dem party at our next PCP Zoom meeting.

[Velar Fricative]

I just read a WaPo article about at least one early voting precinct in VA attracting a group of Trump supporters trying to intimidate voters. I’m wonder if there’s an opportunity for others to help make voters feel comfortable walking in to vote and leaving the precinct. Obviously this is based on precinct rules, etc.

[Dumbledork]

If you sign up to be a poll worker, is it an all day thing or shifts? Am I still able to vote in-person if I’m a poll worker?

[RoxMonster]

Sept 20, 2020 10:20:07 GMT -5 Dumbledork said:

If you sign up to be a poll worker, is it an all day thing or shifts? Am I still able to vote in-person if I’m a poll worker?

Here it is an all-day thing. They tell you to be ready for 5 AM to whenever you are done with your duties closing the poll which could be very late. I am not sure if they allow them a chance to vote during their shift or not.

[RoxMonster]

Sept 20, 2020 8:55:30 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

I just read a WaPo article about at least one early voting precinct in VA attracting a group of Trump supporters trying to intimidate voters. I’m wonder if there’s an opportunity for others to help make voters feel comfortable walking in to vote and leaving the precinct. Obviously this is based on precinct rules, etc.

This would be a good idea! I can look into this. I know you can't campaign within (I think) 100 feet, but just greeting people wouldn't be campaigning and I might be able to stand by the door or something.

[sporky]

Sept 20, 2020 10:20:07 GMT -5 Dumbledork said:

If you sign up to be a poll worker, is it an all day thing or shifts? Am I still able to vote in-person if I’m a poll worker?

In VA, it's an all-day shift. We usually get there before 5 a.m. and don't leave until 8:30-9:00 p.m. *If* you are working your home precinct then you are able to vote at some point that day during a lull. 

[msmerymac]

Sept 20, 2020 10:20:07 GMT -5 Dumbledork said:

If you sign up to be a poll worker, is it an all day thing or shifts? Am I still able to vote in-person if I’m a poll worker?

I signed up (not sure yet if I'll be assigned). It's all day, 16ish hours, and there's only a small chance of being assigned to your home precinct. Because of that, my county encourages us to sign up for a mail-in ballot and to vote prior to election day using that method. It depends on your state/county rules, of course, and whether you can vote in person or by mail beforehand. 

[luckydog]

Election Protection workers. If someone is turned away from voting, etc, they help connect that citizen with people who can help. They also needs lawyers to help, but you don’t need to be a lawyer. I believe they also watch for intimidation etc. Check with Rock the Vote—the ACLU links to them from their website.

[carmenere]

Sept 20, 2020 8:55:30 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

I just read a WaPo article about at least one early voting precinct in VA attracting a group of Trump supporters trying to intimidate voters. I’m wonder if there’s an opportunity for others to help make voters feel comfortable walking in to vote and leaving the precinct. Obviously this is based on precinct rules, etc.

Typically only a limited number of registered poll watchers are allowed inside the polling place.

The Election Protection Coalition sponsored by Common Cause has opportunities to volunteer. Here are some:

-Poll Monitor: Volunteers will be provided PPE to support voters at the polls in person and connect voters who are denied the ballot to legal resources and answer questions for voters. 
-Roving Poll Monitor: Use a checklist to drive (or bike!) between polling places and check on lines, signage, and poll preparation. Report back to HQ on any problems at the polls that need to be solved. 
-Social Media Monitor: Identify voters who are posting on social media about problems voting, connecting them to resources and support. 
-Poll Worker: We will connect you to resources to help you apply and get selected as a poll worker to help manage the elections themselves. 
-Election Administration Outreach: Work with election administrators to make sure they are as prepared as possible to run accessible and safe elections.

[RoxMonster]

Sept 21, 2020 10:01:00 GMT -5 luckydog said:

Election Protection workers. If someone is turned away from voting, etc, they help connect that citizen with people who can help. They also needs lawyers to help, but you don’t need to be a lawyer. I believe they also watch for intimidation etc. Check with Rock the Vote—the ACLU links to them from their website.

This sounds like what we can do as poll watchers. I sat at my polling place a bit during the Midterms two years ago. I didn't run into any issues at my polling place, but I know others did have some. We have the number for our Party Chairman and if need be, he has lawyers on speed dial that day.

It sounds like poll watching may be the best way to help that day. I'll go ahead and get my credentials.