Last week, The Democratic Party launched
100actions.com, a new project with one goal: to elect Democrats in 2006.
Over on the DNC blog I wrote that today's Action Item on 100actions.com was really important. It is. I wanted to expand.
Take a Vacation Day
Start planning for Election Day by taking November 7th off work. You can't help get out the vote if you have other obligations, so take a minute to clear your schedule early.
Election Day is November 7, 2006.
That is just 92 short days away. It's a Tuesday. If you have the time and can manage it, plan to take off Monday, November 6th too. I promise you your local campaign will love you. Too often some of the best volunteers end up being unavailable on Election Day, which will break a field person's heart. So start planning to be available now.
Example:
Last November, during the Virginia Election, one of my best volunteers, a precinct captain, didn't remember that she had scheduled a doctor's appointment on Election Day until she got the reminder call from a nurse the Friday before Election Day. She'd made the appointment a year in advance.
So please, check your calendar now, and if you are can manage it, plan to take that day off and volunteer for your local Democratic campaign. When it gets to crunch time, the advertisements are bought, the direct mail has been sent, the real difference in made by the person-to-person contacts that are made on Election Day.
Election Day needs are many are varied, beginning as early as 5 a.m. with a morning lit drop (leaving a reminder to vote on their doorknob so you see it as you leave for work in the morning) to a late night stint at the Board of Elections while the votes are counted.
In between we need volunteers on the phones, at the doors, at the polls, at busy intersections with signs and smiles, on the road driving voters to and from the polls, running between precincts delivering "care packages" to fellow volunteers, etc...
If you are able to work on Election Day, there is a job that will need to be done.
So, if you want to score that gold star early in the campaign season, call up your local field office today and confirm to your field director that you will work all-day on Election Day.