● When do we start? ● Understanding voter concerns in NH ● Building a volunteer infrastructure in PA ● VBM in PA ● SBA Roundup ● Hands-on summer internships ● Activist training: Google Sheets and Meeting Invitations
Breaking News!
Last Tuesday, New Hampshire Democrats once again bucked national trends and won big in town elections throughout the Granite State. These victories come on the heels of Democrats’ overwhelming wins in last year’s municipal elections and three consecutive special elections.
Dems also voted down warrant articles that would have eliminated voting machines and re-instated hand counting in ten towns. There was a huge increase in voter turnout -- several towns ran out of printed ballots and had to print more!
Did you miss the Win Blue NH monthly meeting? Watch the recording (passcode 2?lt14bn) to hear the latest on the Pappas and Hassan campaigns and how SBA plans to help.
When Do We Start?
Winning in 2022 and 2024 requires more than running traditional campaigns in the last four months before the election. Given Republican propaganda and voter suppression successes, Swing Blue Alliance has already started.
It's never too early to take on the following goals, and the rest of the articles in this issue will give you ideas for ways to get started.
Successful election campaigns begin with a clear understanding of voter concerns. SBA volunteers are adopting deep canvassing techniques to help candidates find out what their constituents care about.
Next come volunteers and an infrastructure to support them. That’s why SBA runs phone banks to recruit volunteers who live in swing districts to become active with local organizations.
Increasing the number of Democratic voters is a perpetual goal. It’s not just a matter of urging people to register and go to the polls. Voters become active when they realize what issues they care about and that voting for a particular candidate will address those issues.
Supporting volunteers with training is not the least of these components. SBA offers and promotes training so organizers and activists become confident in their abilities and know that they are part of a community.
Swing Blue Alliance began organizing in 2017 and continues to build upon all we have accomplished and learned.
Read on to see what you can do to build upon this momentum. Starting now.
Understanding Voter Concerns
US Representative Chris Pappas is not waiting. His organization in New Hampshire is already running training in deep canvassing. This approach empowers volunteers to have in-depth conversations with potential voters and learn what matters to them.
This year, deep canvassing will play a role in many campaigns across the country. This training will give you a head start.
As one attendee said, “Your training was one of four I’ve attended on Deep Canvassing. You guys did an especially terrific job, evoking a deeper understanding on the nuances, definitions, purpose, and accessibility.”
Voters in swing states do not enjoy the same level of Democratic power as we do here in our blue bubble. The Volunteers T*B*D program re-energizes people who have volunteered in the past, allowing them to apply their experience to this year’s elections.
Currently, the Volunteers T*B*D Calling Corps is recruiting activists in Pennsylvania who will bolster the Bucks County Democratic Committee's infrastructure.
Yes, getting voters to the polls starts with understanding their concerns. However, you also need to make it easier (even possible?) for people to submit their ballots.
Right now, Swing Blue Alliance is working with the Bucks County Democratic Committee on a vote by mail (VBM) campaign. Volunteers are sending handwritten letters that include official VBM registration forms. That’s making it easy!
The goal is to get 7,500 VBM applications into the mail by March 25. Join the effort!
The date of the Swing Blue Alliance Roundup has been moved from March 20th to March 27th at 5pm when we'll celebrate spring and the rejuvenation of local grassroots activism. Matt Caffrey, Swing Left Director of Grassroots Community Organizing will kick us off. Meet six dynamic group leaders and get a list of the most active groups in Massachusetts and beyond.
Swing Blue Alliance is offering a 10-week internship that will expand your experience in the areas you might want for your next job. There are opportunities to create content; organize meetings, campaigns, and data; apply your language skills; collaborate with on-the-ground organizations in swing states; and much more.
Here’s the internship that can change your life AND change the course of the country.
Both sessions are co-hosted by Indivisible Acton Area, Swing Blue Alliance, and Indivisible Mass Coalition in collaboration with volunteers at the MAssachusetts Grassroots Information Center, a Slack workspace for exchanging information, encouraging connections among groups, and building activist momentum across the state. Join the News-MAGIC Slack space today.
Our Mission
Swing Blue Alliance (formerly Swing Left Greater Boston) is the largest all-volunteer Democratic grassroots organization headquartered in Massachusetts. We use proven methods to protect our Democracy, work on competitive local and national elections, and strengthen the Democratic party at the grassroots level.
