We’ve all heard it – when Democrats show up to vote, We Win. We also know that in non-Presidential years, it’s not an easy job to energize our base of voters. But here’s the thing-
Apathy is not an Option in 2014. Here are four good reasons why: 1. We must keep the Senate, to protect President Obama’s Supreme Court nominating potential. 2. We need to toss out the right wing governors all across this nation – Rick Perry, Rick Scott, Rick Snyder (what is it with the Rick’s?) Scott Walker. 3. We need to return the State Houses to the people in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kansas, etc. 4. We need to raise the minimum wage, on the ballot in dozens of states.
What makes someone take the time to vote on election day? They have something or someone to believe in. They want to feel their voice matters. But, here’s the tricky part, they need to feel they have a chance at winning or they will stay home. This is why gerrymandering is so insidious, and why the media is not our friend. Our message is drowned out 24-7 by a corporate media who have every reason to love a horse race, and cater to the rich and powerful.
We however, have the people on our side. On virtually every progressive policy issue, the majority of the public is with us – extending unemployment insurance, health care, equal pay, LGBTQ rights, infrastructure spending and job creation, and on and on and on. Rather than ask “Why don’t they vote, then?” let’s ask “How can we make sure they vote?”
I think the secret is personal contact, and here’s where we all can help. Each of us can become a precinct delegate, precinct committeeman, precinct captain. It has different names in different states, but it’s basically the same job. Your precinct is a geographical area containing a certain number of voters, and they vote at the same location. For every precinct, the political parties determine how many delegates can be elected to represent your precinct at the State Convention. As a precinct delegate, you have voting rights within the party. You also have access to communication from the party concerning candidates, issues, events, training, and legislative happenings.
The most important role of a precinct delegate is to spread the progressive message one by one with your friends and neighbors – in your precinct. With the sophisticated data available today, the party can help you identify likely supporters right in your own neighborhood. You didn’t know the Smiths on the corner were strong Democratic voters? Now you do, and you can start a conversation, invite them to an event, or introduce them to a candidate. You can circulate petitions for candidates and issues you believe in, and you will meet people who care about the issues the same way you do. When people know that others are excited and working for their issues and candidates, they will turn up and vote.
In thousands of precincts nationwide, the open positions go unfilled because no one bothers to step up. There are over 50 Democratic precinct delegate openings in my mid-sized city alone. That’s 50 people who, working together, can be a very powerful group to Get Out the Vote.
Join the Democratic party, then find your local election officials online, and file an application. Where I live, it’s the County Clerk’s office. The filing deadline for this year is fast approaching, and it’s different from state to state. Take part in the representative part of representative government. Let’s take our government back the old fashioned way – getting our voters to the polls on election day. Let the Koch’s spend their money. We have the antidote. We have the people.
Apathy is Not an Option