In response to MineralMan's challenge, "what are you doing to elect Democrats?"

[Damansarajaya]

Yesterday was my first day canvassing the neighborhood for "apathetic" voters. These are registered D voters who usually skip the mid-term election.

We volunteers were tasked by the local county party to ask these voters to vote by mail.

Voting by mail does a number of great things for electing Dems:

1. It about DOUBLES the participation for people who vote by advanced ballot. No lines or car problems to worry about.

2. It allows the local party to see who has voted and who has not so that efforts to get out the vote (GOTV) are not wasted on people who have already voted.

3. It blunts the effect of last minute attack ads--too late for the opposition to refute--that the hateful Cons always run on the eve of elections, because advance voters have already sent in their ballots.

4. It is a paper ballot that can be easily recounted if necessary.

5. Those who vote in advance are then freed up to work in other capacities on election day--poll watching, driving voters to polls, phone banking, etc.

So far, every single person I've spoken to wants an advance ballot.

Okay, that my story. Now let's hear yours.

[Bluenorthwest]

1. My whole State votes by mail, and yes it makes the entire process smoother.

Next week I'll start going in to do some phone calling. I will not canvass this cycle due to health issues, but I will cdrink coffee, dial the phone for Senator Merkley, Representative DeFazio and so forth....

[Damansarajaya]

2. shameless self-promotional kick nt

[MineralMan]

3. Excellent!

Mail voting begins this week in MN, and I'm encouraging it, too. Here it's still called absentee voting, but no reason is required as of now.

I'll still be voting on election day, though, out of tradition.