When We Vote Early, We Win, Part 2: Let's get organized

There is no downside to early voting and there's plenty to do to get ready.

By Martha Merson and Robbin Warner

Early voting is starting

This election promises to be historic. Around the country Democrats are jazzed for the Harris/Walz ticket. As volunteers know, there’s a world of work to be done. Campaigns used to organize activities around Election Day, but now we have an Election Season which kicks off with EARLY Voting that starts this month. 

In “When We Vote Early, We Win, Part 1”, Robbin Warner pointed out that early voting has a long list of benefits for the voter and the candidates. In fact, voting on Day 1 makes it far more likely the 2024 election will come off without interference. There is a reason Trump hates non-Election Day in person voting so much - it makes it harder for him to cheat or challenge the election results.

What’s on your checklist for mobilizing a strong early voting turnout?  

The groundwork to get people to vote early needs to be laid now.  This early voting part 2 companion piece offers a checklist of things to do in states where early in-person voting is an option. 

Find out when early voting starts in a particular state. Virginia, South Dakota, and Minnesota will kick off early voting on September 20. Vermont comes next on October 1. Find dates for other states here. (Be sure to scroll down to “general election”).

Learn what the Secretary of State’s office is doing and complement its efforts. This can be the Secretary of State (or Board of Elections) in your state or the swing state where you are focusing your efforts. 

• Do they have outreach initiatives? Some, such as New Mexico, will tell you how to become an election observer, challenger, and watcher.

• What are their messages? For example, in Pennsylvania: “Registered voters can request, receive, vote and submit your mail-in or absentee ballot all in one visit to your county election office or other designated location.”

Know key dates and get them on community calendars. Activist Pam McAffee says, “Get the dates for early voting and the last day to register as well as to request a mail-in ballot into your head and onto postcards to voters.” 

• Work with partners like long-term care facilities, a daycare provider, or faith-based group to spread the word and offer reminders for Day 1 voting.

• Check local college calendars. Request colleges announce dates at events.

• Make sure voters are aware of the last date they can return their vote by mail (VBM) ballot.

Social media graphics from Vote Dem Early Instagram page

Tasks your group can do to support voters casting their ballots

• Make a cheat sheet for volunteers with drop off locations, including county clerk office addresses.

• Line up volunteers to offer rides to the polls on Day 1.

• Memorize or make a cheat sheet with the list of documentation that voters in your state will need to prove they are registered and active voters. 

• Get serious about Voter ID! VoteRiders.org offers a state-by-state map with constantly-updated information on ID requirements. Anyone needing assistance with documents can get assistance. VoteRiders offers resources for students, transgender and non-binary individuals, and voters with disabilities. VoteRiders prints and ships Voter ID Information Cards to nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations for FREE via an order form on their website. Cards can also be downloaded and used digitally in text-banking and shared on partner websites. 

Get up to speed; Sign up for relevant trainings now

• TargetSmart will be releasing two public tools in the coming days that will make it easier to understand what’s happening in the 2024 election. The first will track voter registration trends in the states, and the second will track the early vote. Watch Tom Bonier discussing these new tools with Simon Rosenberg.

• Train volunteers on Democracy Lab’s Not on Our Watch app. For more on the app and early voting, read here

• Explore websites that will be useful in tracking Vote By Mail ballots, such as https://www.vote.org/ballot-tracker-tools/

Get creative spreading the word about early voting

• Visit your local coffee shop and ask if they will offer and advertise a discount for Day 1 voters. 

• Swing Left Peninsula and Sylvia Salazar have compiled resources that encourage voting on Day 1. You are welcome to use them. Find early voting messages in English and Spanish on https://www.voteonday1.org. The site offers 14 state-specific videos, in English and Spanish

• The Spanish version of the website is here: In addition to videos, find print materials such as flyers, stickers, postcards, and yard signs that all encourage people to vote on Day 1.

• Democracy Lab’s will soon make it possible for individuals to create a list of their own early voting sites like this one for Virginia voters.

  https://vavoter.net/evlist

• Send postcards announcing the date and times and polling place locations for Day 1 voting to episodic voters.

• Post signs in public on bulletin boards and bathroom stalls reminding voters of issues that affect our lives: “No one sees your vote at the polls. Vote for sensible gun laws. Vote Blue.”

Be an ally to people with disabilities. A lot of votes left uncast are those of people with disabilities. 

• Support REV UP to reach out to disabled voters, increase accessibility at the polls, and fight voter suppression

• Join Disabled Voters for Harris, a community-driven organization dedicated to supporting disabled individuals in exercising their right to vote.

• Join "Raise Every Voice 2" planning team. Planning meetings happen every two weeks at 8 p.m. ET/5 PT. Save the Date for Raise Every Voice 2 on September 26, 2024. Email sean.brady@yale.edu to receive updates and more information.

Vote early yard signs available for purchase here

Learn more and do more

• If you want to learn more about early voting, sign up to attend the Grassroots Collaboration Project September 18^th forum on this topic with inspiration and practical ways to supercharge the Democratic early vote. You will find out about opportunities more about opportunities to protect the vote.

• You can also participate in “Winning the House” Thursdays (7:30 – 9:00pm ET) to write postcards and make phone calls promoting voting Day 1 of early voting for Congressional Candidates in swing districts with the Hopium community, Postcards4VA, Markers for Democracy and Grassroots Democrats HQ.

• Plan, host, promote or join a Vote Day 1 party at the polls. Virginia is doing it and you can too! Get party ideas or put your party on the map so others can find it at VoteDay1.com

Final thoughts

As Laura Martinez, avid postcard writer and activist puts it “Early voting is good for you.” 

Action starts with us. If you vote by mail, don’t hatch your vote. Don’t sit on it for a few days, a week, or until the last possible minute. Fill it out and mail it. Block time on your calendar today to get to the polls on the first day of Early Voting. And bring a friend or twenty-four for Election 2024. 

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Thanks to Pam McAffee, Sylvia Salazar, Swing Left Peninsula, Simon Rosenberg, Katherine White and the Network NOVA team, and others making the case for Day 1 Voting!