Right after “How Are You?”

Using “weak ties” to get votes

By Martha Merson

Most of us have reached out to family and friends to make sure they are registered to vote and have a plan for casting their ballot. We aren’t done yet though. We must reach out to our circle of “weak ties.”

The strength and importance of “weak ties” was confirmed in a famous 1973 study at Johns Hopkins. “Weak ties” describes the people you see regularly who are outside your social or work circles. You smile, exchange greetings, maybe even inquire, “How are you?” With democracy on the line, why not go further?

Why not ask the parking attendant, the life guard, the receptionist at the gym, the Lyft driver, mail carrier, dry cleaner, dental hygienist, and custodian about their voting plans? Deborah Hecht does it. This week when she ran into Savers. “While I was waiting for the receipt to print, the cashier and I are standing there. I said, ‘Have you voted?’ She shook her head. I said, ‘Honey, you need to vote.’”

Then I said, “I know you have a job. You don’t have the time I have to research. If you trust me, friend me on social media. Friend me and I’ll guide you.”

Is it too odd or awkward to move from a superficial greeting to a political conversation? Dismiss those feelings. You can start by asking about friends and family — “Are your kids and neighbors registered?” Make an offer, not a sales pitch. “Hey, can we text. I’d like to share a video that gave me a lift. Can I send it to you? I have a feeling you’ll like it.”

In some states, you can still ask about voter registration. Twenty states permit voters to register on Election Day, with some setting the deadline slightly earlier.

Michael Moore agrees with the importance of weak ties and the need to reach out:

“We are going to pull off a miracle,” Moore says. “The way we pull this off is to pack the polls in the largest turnout ever in an American election. And the way we create that size of a crowd (the one of many sizes Trump is an expert in) is for each of us to vote… AND adopt three other adults who may or may not be thinking of voting — and we make sure they do. We do it together! We identify these three people — they can be friends, family members, co-workers, fellow students, parishioners, neighbors, etc. They can live down the block or across the country. They agree to go vote with you on Election Day. Or the four of you go now and do Early Voting together. Or you sit with each of them at your desk at work or school, or the lot of you meet in the cafeteria or the local deli and you all fill out your absentee ballots and go mail them or drive them to the nearest election drop box. Make an event out of it!”

By following Moore’s advice, you quadruple your single vote. Think if everyone did this! Think if instead of Trump losing by 7 million, he loses by 28 million!

“Do it today!” Moore says. And if you could use more tips on what to say to your friends and family, sign up for one of the three daily training sessions on friendbanking here (https://www.mobilize.us/relationalfutures/event/710214/).

Most grassroots volunteers focus on winning votes in swing states, but we need to build voter engagement in every state. By doing so, we will keep heinous laws off the books, ensure voting rights, mitigate climate change, and make sure that in down ballot races we have local leaders ready to counter Moms for Liberty and other right-wing groups.

So keep at it, friends.  Court those “weak ties” and make the country stronger!