Help Now, Feedback Later
The GOTV countdown is on and like it or not, Maine is important. There are so many feels about election season and we all deserve to give our input into making it better for 2028 but for today, there is genuine importance in getting Dems elected as a gateway to a fighting chance for better futures.
In 2022, Maine Dems won the Statehouse by 60 votes across 3 elections. And in Sanford, a man accused of domestic violence was elected anyway, by 1 vote!
My neighbor recently reminded me “winners set agendas” and it is true in Maine and Federally – the party in power has a lot of sway. While Dems are far from perfect, they are leading the way on human rights, meeting people’s basic needs, and addressing inequalities – esp compared to the nonstop corruption of the GOP.
MOST USEFUL
Vote Early – vote now and get your people to do so and it reduces the GOTV work for the campaigns so they can really focus on folks who might be having a hard time getting to the polls – nonpartisan info here
If you can knock doors/lit drop do that! or with your fave outside group or down ballot candidate (knocking with Maine Dems lets them collect the data which helps figure out where to knock more)
If time on your feet feels hard, try phone banking
Organize a mini-party or potluck b/c you can call from home but always more fun with others –
If you can do a little more
- train to be a Volunteer Leader
- organize your friends to volunteer together – community drives us and keeps us coming back
- Host a debate party and hype people up and then sign them up for GOTV shifts
- Share a genuine reason you’re excited about Troy – people are hearing so many negative messages and we’re still a bit fresh off the primary so finding your reason and sharing it is important – we’re most influenced by our friends.
- Write letters to the editor, repost ++ Dem stories on social media, amplify a pro dem message (the Collins campaign has 3x the money for ads so its people power for Dems)
If you can do a little less, consider blocking off time during the last 4 days which is the biggest hustle –
- League of Women Voters Nonpartisan Training Tuesday October 13 5pm zoom or in person (see website for dates) https://www.lwvme.org/civicrm-event/2391?a0=events&a1=
- Organize a meal or healthy snacks for campaign workers – they are literally working 60+ hours a week and likely subsisting on last year’s halloween candy
If you want it to be more fun – do these things as a way to circle back to step 1 (not instead)
- Indivisible Greater Portland made Phone Bank Bingo (see below)
- If your friends are competitive, add a “leader board” for steps taken, doors knocked, etc and give silly prizes
- Combine a canvas shift with a daytrip – go somewhere you’ve been wanting to see, or treat yourself to a meal after a canvas shift, etc.
- MomsRising has Pumpkin Carving Patterns
