Volunteers Taking Back Democracy
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In This Issue:
● Voter protection ● Go for a walk in NH ● Phonebank phobia
● Talk about what matters to swing state Dems ● Keep DC blue with Hassan and Pappas
● Chase ballots in PA ● Protect NC from a Republican supermajority
● Where in the world is Susan Labandibar?
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It's Not Too Soon to Protect the Vote
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Learn about voter protection from the VoPro Pros
at the SBA All Volunteer Roundup!
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Learn how to answer voters’ questions and address problems in real time.
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Sun, Oct 2 @ 4 - 6 pm EDT
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Grab a Friend and Go for a Walk in NH
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Join other Swing Blue Alliance volunteers and spend a morning or afternoon canvassing in New Hampshire. In only an hour, you can be in Nashua or Merrimack, going from door to door, enjoying the NH air. If you're new to canvassing, you can walk with experienced canvassers who’ll show you the ropes and gently bring you up to speed.
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Canvassing is NOT about telling people how to vote. Instead, it's a way to open conversations, asking voters about issues that concern them, giving them information about Maggie Hassan and Chris Pappas or Annie Kuster, and assessing if they are supporters. No hard sell!
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Sat, Oct 8 @ 10 am - 1 pm EDT in Merrimack
Sun, Oct 9 @ 12 - 3 pm EDT in Nashua
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Get a head start with this introduction to SBA's streamlined approach to canvassing.
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I dragged myself kicking and screaming into phonebanking in 2018 and again in 2020. Now, I’ve started -- again -- with the NC Volunteers TBD phonebank.
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It gets easier every time
I’m reminded that it’s not too hard. In fact, phonebanking's quite amazing.
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- Every week, the leaders support my efforts and answer my questions. Callers applaud each other’s successes.
- I’ve become inured to no-answers … just a chance to dial the next number.
- I’ve only had one hang-up in the last 50 calls.
- The conversations at the end of each phonebank session make it clear we're reaching enough voters to have an impact.
- Most satisfying, I’ve talked to phenomenal people who care enough about the election to cast their votes and even sign up as volunteers.
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No persuasion needed
I am not trying to convince people about anything. We talk about what’s important to them and what they think would bring more Dems to the polls.
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People care
When people on the phone talk about what’s at stake (control of Congress, reproduction rights, voter restrictions, etc.), they realize they want to do more. That’s my chance to connect them with local candidates or Dem organizations and tell them about the ways they can help.
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Here's what really keeps me going: I can’t stand by and let my last 50 years of activism go down the drain.
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Wendy Postlethwaite
Swing Blue Alliance Newsletter Editor
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If I have the courage and heart to make phone calls, you can do it, too. Here are two different campaigns that will affect the election: Volunteers TBD and Dialing for Democracy.
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People like to talk about things that matter to them. Swing Blue Alliance Volunteers TBD (VTBD) phonebanks give them an opening to do that.
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When you join the VTBD Calling Corps, you dial into swing states, simply asking active Dems why they’re voting. You listen with curiosity, helping the person on the other end of the line think through what’s important.
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As people on the other end of the line talk, they become animated. At this point, it’s easy for you to connect them to local volunteering activities. They're excited by the opportunity to make calls, canvass, and/or protect voting at the polls.
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Remember! There's a time lag between your calls and volunteer start dates ... and only five weeks between today and the election.
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Now is your only chance to enlist volunteers who will help:
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Help Maggie Hassan and Chris Pappas Keep DC Blue
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New Hampshire’s representatives in Washington need to understand what their constituents are thinking. Get answers by asking NH Democrats for their opinions, as part of Dialing for Democracy. You'll be creating a connection that encourages voters to participate in the election.
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Tue, Oct 4 & 11 @ 4:30 - 6:30 pm EDT
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If you've been thinking about sending postcards and letters to swing state Democrats, put that task on this week's to-do list. Be part of the SBA team that has sent over 309K letters and postcards to swing states this year.
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Swing Blue Alliance is currently running two mailing campaigns: ballot chasing in PA and vote by mail in NC.
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Swing Blue Alliance volunteers have already sent 140,000 mail-in ballot applications to Pennsylvania. Now, we're targeting selected recipients, encouraging them to return their ballots.
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Step up and remind these voters to mail in their ballots or put them in drop boxes before it’s too late. Letters include a short, handwritten message and placement of a stamp on the envelope. That’s all it takes to get out the vote.
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Letters must go out to PA by October 18, so don't wait!
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Protect NC from a Republican Supermajority
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North Carolina State Representative Ricky Hurtado, a progressive Democrat, is a successful incumbent. However, in 2020, he won by only 477 votes out of 40,677 cast.
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Hurtado, the first Latino Democrat to be elected to the North Carolina General Assembly, is hoping to increase that margin. He is a key candidate to block a complete Republican takeover of the NC government. Now is our opportunity to remind Democratic voters to support him in the upcoming election.
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No time like the present ... cards must go out to NC by October 11.
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Click a Button to Sign Up for Either Campaign
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Already an organizer?
No time like the present to order letters and postcards.
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Sign up to get a list of letter and postcard pick-ups near you.
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Get together with friends and write letters. No scheduling, no hunting for volunteers. Register as an "organizer" and place your order.
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Most of you know Susan Labandibar as the indefatigable leader of Swing Blue Alliance, ever present at more events in a week than is humanly possible. From now until the election, Susan will be applying all her skills and experience as a Field Organizer in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
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Susan realized that staffing challenges are hobbling Democratic field campaigns up and down the ballot. When the PA Dems couldn't find a Spanish-speaking organizer, Susan (who does not speak Spanish) stepped up as a pinch hitter. She's looking forward to working in Reading, the fourth largest city in Pennsylvania ( ... as well as keeping her finger in the Swing Blue Alliance pie).
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Susan's primary focus is on getting out the vote. Her goal is to kick off two phonebanks and set up seven weekly canvassing events in each of three locations by October 15. We’ll hear more about her progress in newsletter issues to come.
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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.
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Your contribution will help fund the operations of this volunteer-produced newsletter, which goes out to over 15K subscribers.
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