Chicago Democracy week, which was a coordinated effort to register 17 year olds, was a smashing success. Many groups participated including the League of Women Voters. And in addition to registering many new voters, "the (follow-up) report finds that the turnout of those who registered surpassed that of 19-45 year old voters for the first time in history." This diary will focus on the League of Women Voters' information and guidance about how to do an effective voter registration drive at local high schools. Let's hope we can help emulate the windy city example.
We are a bit late in the game as late winter early spring is the best timing (sorry just didn't start this series until recently) but the League did say now would still be good to do this. Link to the training manual is below as well as the link to find a local League chapter. In the manual, among other topics, they explain how to work with schools to make sure that the event is during a time when students will be present and how to publicize it to reach the widest audience. They also have press releases, they tell you how to talk with students about voter registration and provide very thorough guidelines about follow through. Many thanks to them for what they do and for their help with this.
And many thanks for all the positive comments and support in the inaugural diary. And of course for Eclectablog's terrific advice. Link to that diary is below. If you want his "house meeting in a box" template, please contact him at eclectablog@gmail.com. And a thank you to Meteor Blades for the Chicago info. Possible future gotv topics: Save the Senate: What's at Stake; How to Canvass Rural Areas; Souls to the Polls; GOTV Moms; Inspiring Younger Voters; Help I'm in a red state, what can I do? Topic suggestions, any other suggestions, ideas, thoughts are very welcome.
Training Manual, local chapters and action steps below the squiggle.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HIGH SCHOOL REG TRAINING MANUAL:
http://www.lwv.org/...
LWV local chapters:
http://www.lwv.org/...
SIMPLE ACTION STEPS:
1 SCHOOL DAZE: Start your own registration event at a local school. Or volunteer for any registration drive already underway. You can also repost this or their information anywhere you think likely and/or send it along to your area chapter of the League of Women Voters to suggest that they do this. I do want to point out of course that this is only effective to boost Democratic votes in blue or purple areas. Hope to discuss red state options in a later diary.
2. VIRTUAL VOTEGETTER. This is not only for high school voters but to encourage general voter registration. Please repost this link to the Rock the Vote site which shows how you can register online, confirm that registration and vote absentee. Also note that you can put a voter registration tool on your website if you want. http://www.rockthevote.com/...
3. ECLECTASUGGESTIONS: In the inaugural diary, Eclectablog suggested that you contact the office of a candidate that you admire and want to support. Ask what you can do. For additional tips and ideas, http://www.dailykos.com/...
Make graduation even more memorable: