Deadline: NOW! The election is just a blink away!
We bet that, like us, you’ve known since November 7, 2016 how you’re voting in the 2020 election. We also wager that nothing could keep you from voting, and that you know how, when and where you’ll vote (or you’ve already voted!). But plenty of swing state Dems don’t know all their voting options, or aren’t positive they’ll vote at all. We’re reaching out to turn those potential votes into actual ones – convincing people that their vote is their power, and making sure they know how to cast it.
Read on to see what we’re doing, and how you can be part of it:
What we’ve been doing:
In this COVID era, Indivisible East Bay transformed into a virtual phone and text banking machine: over the course of just three days of our “GOTV HQ” on October 3, 17 and 18, IEB members and friends sent 35,000 texts and made over 6,000 phone calls to swing state voters! We’re letting people know they can vote early in person, since many folks don’t know. We’re walking them through applying for mail-in ballots. We’re finding out where their drop boxes or new polling places are. And we’re convincing people to vote! One phone banker talked to a bitter swing state voter who thought her vote wouldn’t matter because of the electoral college – the phone banker told her that every vote matters in swing states, and convinced her to reconsider. Research tells us phone banking is highly effective to get out the vote, and we see this every time we make calls.
And we’re taking breaks from our GOTV efforts for great events! On Sat. Oct. 17 singer-songwriter Kris Gruen serenaded us with songs and stories of Vermont. On Sun. Oct. 18, Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, who’s on the BVM “Blackest Bus in America” voter outreach tour, stopped by to inspire us. He talked about BVM’s work supporting communities that are historically excluded from politics in building their own power. He also connected BVM’s work to all volunteers doing direct voter contact, and reminded us the work involves making connections and building relationships year round.
On Sunday, Oct. 25, don’t miss out on special guest Tommy Vietor from Crooked Media and Pod Save America! He’ll stop by at noon to thank and cheer on phone and text bankers! To join, sign up here.
What you can do:
Election Day is almost here, and we’re so glad you’re with us in this fight. Only TWO MORE weekends of GOTV HQ – help us DOUBLE our phone call total!
Get out the vote with IEB:
- All IEB 2020 election events
- Get Out the Vote HQ Saturday Oct. 24
- Get Out the Vote HQ Sunday Oct. 25
- Get Out the Vote HQ Saturday Oct. 31
- Get Out the Vote HQ Sunday Nov. 1
Photos: (L) Inspiration and motivation from Cliff; (R) Kris closing out Saturday afternoon with IEB
Support:
- Follow Black Voters Matter on twitter (@BlackVotersMtr) and Facebook (check out their great videos!). Support the Blackest Bus Fleet in America, by donating at https://blackvotersmatterfund.org/
Find out more about Kris Gruen’s music on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.
