so, today in election work

[redbird]

I sent a couple of thousand texts, mostly non-partisan get-out-the-vote things, but several hundred on behalf of state-level candidates who Obama recently endorsed. Which is a nice change after having to say "thanks for sharing your views, do you have a plan to vote?" to Trump supporters.

I have also done a little bit of what Swing Left is calling "relational organizing," reaching out to people you know but aren't close to, to ask them to vote. The examples they give include extended family, friends from high school and college, former colleagues, members of parent groups, and social media friends.

With a lot of those people I already know they support Biden [or, at least, dislike or fear Trump enough that they'll vote against him even if they aren't thrilled with Biden).

So far, I have sent a text to Emilie, the personal trainer I worked with when I lived in New York City, and taken a deep breath and written to the person who sends me my freelance proofreading work. As I said, I don't even know what state he lives in--which means he might live in a swing state, and there aren't many people I know who live in one of those states and there's any need to contact them about this.

ETA: Matt wrote back to agree with me about the election, and that he's in Pennsylvania and voted two weeks ago. I just sent email to a family member in Nevada, saying that this message is probably unnecessary, but I voted early just in case and urging her to do the same.

Comments

[minoanmiss]

Thank you once again for doing all this. (not least for keeping your patience with people.)

[redbird]

It's easier in text, where they can't tell if I'm reacting to the rudeness or worse. The "worse" is more often in replying to messages other texters have sent; using a male handle to send these out doesn't stop them being racist and evil, but it spares me the more gendered insults.

[coth]

Thank you. You give me hope.