Someone asked me why I canvass - what’s the purpose? So you knock on doors to help GOTV. What’s the point? Does it make a difference?
Yes it does. Here is why.
A few days ago, we canvassed a small neighborhood in a neighboring community. We talked to a retired medical doctor who came here from Croatia and told us he didn’t leave a dictatorship to sit by and watch it happen here. He took signs for our candidate (Callie Barr) and literature for some of the residents in his apartment building. We had a lovely talk.
We talked to a young woman, first year at a Michigan university and home on fall break, who sheepishly admitted that she didn’t know where to register to vote. She was a text string with her friends, all of them posting their “I voted” stickers. We showed her where to go to vote, what she needed to register, and where she can vote during early voting. It was so much fun to talk to her!
We talked to a retired UAW worker who didn’t know that he could take his AV ballot, fill it out at home, and cast it during early voting or on voting day. Many people don’t know this!
We had a Navy veteran who chatted with Paul about all things Navy. Then got his wife, a retired teacher. We spent time with them on the judicial candidates and early voting options.
We talked to a new resident, a young man who saw us canvassing, and approached us. He had questions about where to register to vote, who and what was on the ballot, and wanted to know when he could vote. He worked in community mental health and as he said, “so much is on the line.”
We talked to so MANY people about early voting. One woman had just moved to Michigan and knew nothing about it. Another woman had just moved in to the house and she had no idea where early voting was located. She wanted to take her mother to early voting, too.
This is often the most confusing for people – the early voting location is likely NOT your regular election day polling location. We have a small handout with all the information – location, hours, and the dates of early voting. We have handed out hundreds of these.
We have talked to people about who and what is on the ballot. One woman had just picked up her ballot recommendations from the LWV and we left her ours to compare. Many people don’t know that the judicial candidates APPEAR on the ballots as non-partisan. They ARE partisan, endorsed by the party, but there is no party affiliation for them. We have what’s called a slate card with all our party’s candidates as well as the proposals.
We have talked, too about the proposals and why we recommend No on 1 and Yes on 2.
People want signs so we put them up. Some people aren’t home, so we leave literature. Some people aren’t happy we are on their porch so we leave. Some don’t answer the door.
I received a nice note from a friend who said that we must LOVE this. Truth is, I don’t. I don’t like disturbing people. In rural communities, we are driving from house to house. I would rather be at home writing or calling people. But it is SO CRITICAL to meet people where they are - I am willing to forgo all else to help turn this country around.
And in the past few weeks, we have helped educate, inform, and GOTV. It’s why we do it.
