Energize Volunteers for Voter Registration

Seven Ways to Leverage Swing Blue's New Video

By Martha Merson and Susan Labandibar

We have heard the call to action: Increase voter registration. Anyone can do it! Now is the time to make sure that young people and those who moved since the last election are registered at their current address.  To counter GOP voter suppression, Democrats need more feet on the ground, more people involved!

Recognizing this critical, time-sensitive work, Swing Blue Alliance has a succinct but powerful new video to help your group register and inform Democratic voters. Remember: People registered and paying attention to the election are more likely to vote Democratic. 

When Susan’s New York friends asked her where to go to save democracy, she told them, “Pack your bags and go to Pennsylvania! Go this month and next month and in August! Go to Philadelphia! Go to Reading! Go to Norristown and West Chester. Register voters! Go!

To help you inspire friends and relatives to reach out to unregistered voters, and to foster conversations that sway the undecided, the Swing Blue Alliance Video Squad traveled to hotspots like Phoenix, AZ and Erie, PA to shoot footage.  The result is. . . well, watch:

Now you can share this video with friends and family.  Download it and show it as is — or customize it for your group.

How to customize the video:

Use this Voter Registration Help Request form to:

• Ask for a customized version adding your group’s contact information and upcoming events;

• Request help with viral voter registration, an “each one teach one” method training volunteers to work in small groups to register voters.

How to spread the video

We have seven (count em!) strategies:

1. Send the original video (or the customized version if you request one with this link) to five people.  Martha wrote to her brother: “Please watch this video and share with friends wondering how they can help fight fascism and strengthen democracy.”

2. Show the video at your group’s next meeting, perhaps introducing the canvassing app REACH at the same time.

3. Offer the video link while asking for volunteers to register voters.

   

4. Put the link in your group’s newsletter. 

5. Share the link or the original video on social media, pitching an extended friends group or a state party group or organization:

   Hey, KY Dems! A reminder that voter registration can happen now. Check out this video and please share it at your next meeting.

6. Add a link to your email signature. 

   Watch this video if you want a more just future. Then find the Secretary of State’s website for voter registration in your state and share widely!

7. Send the link to a pastor, adult education teacher, or other influential person in your community. Steve wrote to an adult education provider in his city: Thank you for all the ways you serve vulnerable people in our community. Volunteers can help them make their voices heard in upcoming elections. Watch this video and let’s talk about having a Viral Voter Registration training soon!

We must head into the fall with updated information on ALL Democratic voters. Too many, either unlisted or mis-listed in voter databases, are not included in outreach efforts. Voter registration pays off for local races as well as in presidential years.

Remember: when you register voters, you don’t need to push a candidate or issue. You’re just making sure people can exercise their right to vote. And NOW is the perfect time to sign them up for early voting and to have a conversation that builds their commitment to vote.

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