I am hoping for the national youth voter registration campaign you have suggested, Simon. I'm not sure who sets the strategy here, and it seems it would have to be by state. I'm a newcomer to political volunteering and donating, but here in Texas, I've seen nada from the party, state or nat'l., of a thoughtful, step-by-campaign. For a few years now, by contrast, I've received clear messages from Wisconsin about financial and volunteer time opportunities, and have contributed in both ways. Here in Texas, we really need registration followed up with GOTV information/coaching, because voting here is not easy. (E.g., mail-in is still a mess--college kids really need to register where they live, but that means more frequent registrations.)
In the meantime, I'll continue to sign up for events on campuses with various non-profits, but, boy, it seems we are missing a real opportunity.
I agree that we have a huge opportunity with young voters that we need to capitalize on. I’d recommend checking out Voters of Tomorrow and NextGen America. (My son works with VOT so I have more inside knowledge of this org and they are amazing.) Two of their leaders - Santiago Mayer (great to follow on Twitter) and Victor Shi (also great and has a huge presence on mainstream media as well) have done remarkable work to do GOTV work as well as building state chapters to engage young voters. Highly recommend following both on Twitter or Instagram. Also, on a more personal note, there are things each of us can do individually to engage young voters. If you know any young people, make sure they are registered to vote. Use your social media to share imp legis that Dems and Biden have passed that impact young people (climate action, gun control, mental health and student loans to name a few). Finally, in 2022, I went to do poll watching in Reno, NV (I’m from CA) and I was assigned to University of NV, Reno. After 2 days of poll watching, I came back with donuts and pizza and set up in the Student Union (just outside the election zone). I made a handmade sign that said “Have a plan to vote? have a donut.” At first, I walked around offering donuts to students and asking if they had a plan to vote and I answered questions. Soon, I only had to sit at my table, offering donuts or pizza as kids walked by, and kids started coming up to me with questions. (So many questions bc many students are registered in a different county and weren’t show how to vote in this county.) I didn’t try to persuade them to vote for Dems, I just offered voting info. I have done a ton of GOTV work the last six years (canvassing, phonebanking and texting) and I have never had more engagement with so many voters in just a few hours. I found the kids to be very open and genuine in a desire to vote, but concerned about logistics and making the right decision. (I have college kids as well so I would mention that and tell them I came from CA bc I’m so concerned about their future, they have so much power to make a difference and they should stop letting conservative old white people decide their future - this really seemed to hit home.) I then went to Las Vegas on my own in the last few days leading up to E-Day and hit community colleges and UNLV, gave out hundreds of donuts and helped kids finding their voting locations on Iwillvote.com. (So many kids were like yeah I’m gonna vote but didn’t know their voting location.) I spoke to hundreds of kids over a few days - literally the best GOTV work I’ve ever done and anyone can do it!
Heather, I would like to share your campus ideas with a couple of TX folks on Twitter but not without your permission. Is that okay with you? I would certainly credit you.
Cathy and Heather -- do check out Field Team 6 latest on outreach to these very voters, with actions that can absolutely be used by any, incl. those who feel need to bypass their Dem party (local, state or nat’l) for whatever reasons.
One comment with an "addendum". The national voter registration effort is crucial to our defending democracy. David Pepper's new book "Saving Democracy" has multiple ways to engage voters and register new ones. In fact, there is a list of organizations at the end of Chapter 4 which lists organizations of all types. Check it out. My "addendum" is a suggestion to have David as a guest on one of your Zoom sessions.
I keep seeing complaints from Democrats regarding the party's "messaging." Apparently those listeners are hearing something different from what young voters and Hispanics have been hearing. We should all listen harder, and try to ignore the background noise of ineffectual media.
Agree!! When people complain to me about Dem messaging, I find it’s bc they rely on mainstream media (NYT/CNN etc) for Dem messaging and yet these companies do not amplify Dem messaging compared to Fox and the GOP right wing media. These folks (unlike young people) are also not on Twitter or IG (both way better places to hear directly from Dems; FB is not a great platform for that) or they don’t follow Dem leaders and allies so all the “messaging” is completely lost. When I tell people (often family and friends who are better informed than the average person), they are - no joke - shocked to hear that Dems are messaging all the time; the messaging is strong; and messaging is tailored to our big tent that goes from AOC to Manchin.
Thank you for that information. I tend to forget about or kind of dismiss those forums and need to look into them more. However, I do not rely on MSM at all! I don't watch TV news. I get all of my news from subscriptions to some worthy, legacy publications, WCPT (NPR not so much anymore) Substack subcriptions like this one and specialized sites like the one run by Greg Palast. Now I have a few options I'd overlooked.
There is a group called fieldteam6.org that has lists to send postcards to remind Democrats to register to vote through a system called voterizer.org I believe Simon had an article about this a few weeks ago. The postcards are efficiently worded. Postcards a very inexpensive on Etsy. I order the stamps online.
Heather, I love, love, love this and will plan on doing the same sort of thing. Before the Nov. 2022 election, but within 30 days of the election thus too late to register in Texas for that election, I went to the UTD campus with a sign that said, “Questions about voting?” Similar to you, I got a lot of kids saying they were registered but didn’t get know where to go, what to do when they got there, etc. I agree with you that youth leadership is important AND that counsel/reassurance from an “old hand” voter can also play a valuable role. THANK YOU for these ideas!
I am curious about the low favorability rating for Republican incumbents in Trump districts. Perhaps those polled are unhappy that their reps are not more radical and destructive? Or that their reps havn’t impeached the President yet, or sent Hunter to the slammer?
I am hoping for the national youth voter registration campaign you have suggested, Simon. I'm not sure who sets the strategy here, and it seems it would have to be by state. I'm a newcomer to political volunteering and donating, but here in Texas, I've seen nada from the party, state or nat'l., of a thoughtful, step-by-campaign. For a few years now, by contrast, I've received clear messages from Wisconsin about financial and volunteer time opportunities, and have contributed in both ways. Here in Texas, we really need registration followed up with GOTV information/coaching, because voting here is not easy. (E.g., mail-in is still a mess--college kids really need to register where they live, but that means more frequent registrations.)
In the meantime, I'll continue to sign up for events on campuses with various non-profits, but, boy, it seems we are missing a real opportunity.
I agree that we have a huge opportunity with young voters that we need to capitalize on. I’d recommend checking out Voters of Tomorrow and NextGen America. (My son works with VOT so I have more inside knowledge of this org and they are amazing.) Two of their leaders - Santiago Mayer (great to follow on Twitter) and Victor Shi (also great and has a huge presence on mainstream media as well) have done remarkable work to do GOTV work as well as building state chapters to engage young voters. Highly recommend following both on Twitter or Instagram. Also, on a more personal note, there are things each of us can do individually to engage young voters. If you know any young people, make sure they are registered to vote. Use your social media to share imp legis that Dems and Biden have passed that impact young people (climate action, gun control, mental health and student loans to name a few). Finally, in 2022, I went to do poll watching in Reno, NV (I’m from CA) and I was assigned to University of NV, Reno. After 2 days of poll watching, I came back with donuts and pizza and set up in the Student Union (just outside the election zone). I made a handmade sign that said “Have a plan to vote? have a donut.” At first, I walked around offering donuts to students and asking if they had a plan to vote and I answered questions. Soon, I only had to sit at my table, offering donuts or pizza as kids walked by, and kids started coming up to me with questions. (So many questions bc many students are registered in a different county and weren’t show how to vote in this county.) I didn’t try to persuade them to vote for Dems, I just offered voting info. I have done a ton of GOTV work the last six years (canvassing, phonebanking and texting) and I have never had more engagement with so many voters in just a few hours. I found the kids to be very open and genuine in a desire to vote, but concerned about logistics and making the right decision. (I have college kids as well so I would mention that and tell them I came from CA bc I’m so concerned about their future, they have so much power to make a difference and they should stop letting conservative old white people decide their future - this really seemed to hit home.) I then went to Las Vegas on my own in the last few days leading up to E-Day and hit community colleges and UNLV, gave out hundreds of donuts and helped kids finding their voting locations on Iwillvote.com. (So many kids were like yeah I’m gonna vote but didn’t know their voting location.) I spoke to hundreds of kids over a few days - literally the best GOTV work I’ve ever done and anyone can do it!
Heather, I would like to share your campus ideas with a couple of TX folks on Twitter but not without your permission. Is that okay with you? I would certainly credit you.
Absolutely! I would love everyone to take the idea and run with it. Feel free to message me (if you can do that on Substack- if you Have questions).
Cathy and Heather -- do check out Field Team 6 latest on outreach to these very voters, with actions that can absolutely be used by any, incl. those who feel need to bypass their Dem party (local, state or nat’l) for whatever reasons.
I’ve volunteered with FT6 many times - they do great work!
One comment with an "addendum". The national voter registration effort is crucial to our defending democracy. David Pepper's new book "Saving Democracy" has multiple ways to engage voters and register new ones. In fact, there is a list of organizations at the end of Chapter 4 which lists organizations of all types. Check it out. My "addendum" is a suggestion to have David as a guest on one of your Zoom sessions.
I keep seeing complaints from Democrats regarding the party's "messaging." Apparently those listeners are hearing something different from what young voters and Hispanics have been hearing. We should all listen harder, and try to ignore the background noise of ineffectual media.
Agree!! When people complain to me about Dem messaging, I find it’s bc they rely on mainstream media (NYT/CNN etc) for Dem messaging and yet these companies do not amplify Dem messaging compared to Fox and the GOP right wing media. These folks (unlike young people) are also not on Twitter or IG (both way better places to hear directly from Dems; FB is not a great platform for that) or they don’t follow Dem leaders and allies so all the “messaging” is completely lost. When I tell people (often family and friends who are better informed than the average person), they are - no joke - shocked to hear that Dems are messaging all the time; the messaging is strong; and messaging is tailored to our big tent that goes from AOC to Manchin.
Thank you for that information. I tend to forget about or kind of dismiss those forums and need to look into them more. However, I do not rely on MSM at all! I don't watch TV news. I get all of my news from subscriptions to some worthy, legacy publications, WCPT (NPR not so much anymore) Substack subcriptions like this one and specialized sites like the one run by Greg Palast. Now I have a few options I'd overlooked.
America's Rich Don't Want You To Know This
Simple Way To Stop Oligarchy
https://youtu.be/VNNJJXflyC0
I listen to him on WCPT every damn day with no regrets atall.
Anyone can put up a poll
Poll: MAGA GOP's Never Vote to Protest False Election Fraud Claims
There is a group called fieldteam6.org that has lists to send postcards to remind Democrats to register to vote through a system called voterizer.org I believe Simon had an article about this a few weeks ago. The postcards are efficiently worded. Postcards a very inexpensive on Etsy. I order the stamps online.
Heather, I love, love, love this and will plan on doing the same sort of thing. Before the Nov. 2022 election, but within 30 days of the election thus too late to register in Texas for that election, I went to the UTD campus with a sign that said, “Questions about voting?” Similar to you, I got a lot of kids saying they were registered but didn’t get know where to go, what to do when they got there, etc. I agree with you that youth leadership is important AND that counsel/reassurance from an “old hand” voter can also play a valuable role. THANK YOU for these ideas!
I am curious about the low favorability rating for Republican incumbents in Trump districts. Perhaps those polled are unhappy that their reps are not more radical and destructive? Or that their reps havn’t impeached the President yet, or sent Hunter to the slammer?