How To Multiply Your Vote By 50 Or Even 100 Times...

You don't have to live in a battleground state to make all-important get-out-the-vote calls. You can do it from wherever you live, starting now. Here's how...

America Coming Together has partnered with Party For America to enlist people like YOU to make GOTV calls to registered Democrats in the battleground states.

As of 1 a.m. this morning, 134,000 calls have already gone out. Help from people like YOU can up that number into the millions. And it's amazingly easy to do (only 3 steps necessary)...

(AMAZINGLY SIMPLE DIRECTIONS BELOW THE FOLD)

1. Go to Party For America. Here's what you'll see...

2. Click 'Start Here' and you're taken to the sign-up page (which includes a sample phone script)...

Fill in your name, email, zip code and phone number (the phone number will only be used if there are questions about your calls). Then click 'Next' and you'll be signed up and taken to a 'thank you' page...

THAT'S ALL IT TAKES! You will be sent a phone list of 50 registered Democrats from a battle ground state. Mine was Ohio and the list arrived in my email within minutes.

PLUS you can get up to two lists per day, and have an impact on 100 voters! That means you could reach up to 300 people in vital battleground states over the next three days.

If you're wondering why calling registered Democrats would make a difference on people showing up at the polls, it's because person-to-person contact DOES make a huge difference in getting out the vote.

And here's an example of why. Say for instance that I asked you to RECOMMEND THIS DIARY so that it would end up on the Recommended Diaries list and help spur thousands or even tens of thousands more GOTV calls. That simple request from one caring person to another is likely to have an effect.

So, enough said. Just click on the link to sign up and get started.

•  Thanks for posting

  by The Messenger on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 09:08:32 AM PDT

  •  update: now 200 per day limit

    Apologies for cheekily posting this high up in the thread, but it contains an important info update.  After singing up for 50 names yesterday, in addition to the names, I also got an email telling me they've increased the limit to 200 names per day.

    They encourage people to involve their friends and family in making the calls from your list.

    They gave me a list calling into Ohio.  Damn right.  I've got to help undo some of the damage my Gov. the Terminator did in rallying Repubs to GOTV for Bush.  The list is of college students who've been identified as supporting Kerry.  Cool people.

    They encourage you to change the script as you feel comfortable, and to make it like a friendly conversation, as long as you get the key info across.

    by Civil Sibyl on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 10:18:59 AM PDT

    •  Thank You And Bless You...

      ...both for the update and FOR YOUR GOOD WORKS IN MAKING THE CALLS.

      It's because of people like you that we're just moments from victory.

      by couldbeanyone on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 10:31:24 AM PDT

      •  And I thank you even more...

        for spreading the word at dKos about this opportunity to help.

        by Civil Sibyl on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 10:16:50 PM PDT

•  Even more...

  A vote in a swing state has much greater odds of tipping the election that a vote in a safe state (both are miniscule, but non-zero, but in aggregate are significant). So, if you're a voter in a safe state calling voters in a swing state, you can multiply your vote by a factor of 100s or 1000s in electoral power for each voter you get to the polls.

  by fwiffo on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 09:35:46 AM PDT

  •  Great point...

    ...but have you recommended this diary?

    by couldbeanyone on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 09:38:12 AM PDT

•  You see...

  This gets recommended instantly for me.

  THIS is why we will win this. Grassroots organization.

  Bring it on.

  by beholderseye on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 09:44:03 AM PDT

•  Recommended...but please

  stop posting in every diary and making multiple posts in open threads.

  1 post in each open thread is enough.  

  by Newsie8200 on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 09:50:31 AM PDT

  •  Sorry, but...

    ...it was my way of getting out the 'get out the vote' callers.

    I'll try to hold back some, but not everybody reads every thread or every diary. And for each new person who sees it there's a potential of 300 new get-out-the-vote calls in the battleground states.

    Multiply that by just a hundred people, and that's 30,000 more calls.

    If it were just a diary with my private thoughts, I would be much more reticent. But I feel obligated to do my part to help ACT's GOTV efforts by getting the word out to as many people as possible at this critical time in this critical election.

    I am a former marketing/advertising professional and it's repetition of the message which brings results. There are many people out there who need to have this brought to their attention six or seven times before they'll be motivated to act.

    p.s. Hope this helps explain my viewpoint.

    by couldbeanyone on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 10:06:18 AM PDT

    •  Don't apologize

      There are way too many diaries that are dropping off into the abyss that have good, constructive things to do in the next three days. You did what you needed to do and it was not illegal or immoral.

      "The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add an useful plant to its culture" -- Thomas Jefferson

      by tommurphy on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 12:42:43 PM PDT

  •  Hell...

    For this kind of post as far as I am concerned he can post a hundred times per day between now and the closing of the polls.
    

    by mole333 on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 10:08:13 AM PDT

    •  Second that! (n/t)

      by understandinglife on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 10:23:57 AM PDT

•  President Gore's revenge!

  Another fine example of how organized the Left has become for this election, and of how we're using the internet to our advantage.

  by the good reverend on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 09:59:14 AM PDT

  •  I hate to think it

    but did Gore's 2000 loss light a fire under everyone?  I had never participated much (except for voting) in the political process until this election.

    by Unstable Isotope on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 11:23:55 AM PDT

    •  Yes!

      I had NO interest in politics until the night of election day in 2000. Watching everything fall apart in Florida and getting the play-by-play from the various networks and political sites was... fun!

      Since then I've been obsessed.

      by the good reverend on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 12:03:14 PM PDT

•  dirty tricks?

  I don't mean to be a wet blanket, but couldn't a Republican infiltrate this really easily?

  by GMaskel on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 10:02:56 AM PDT

  •  I thought of that too...

    ...but I assume that by limiting each person to 100 calls per day ACT is doing their best to avoid this.

    And even if these people receive nuisance calls it's highly unlikely it will affect their vote (remember the list is registered Democrats).

    Finally, the Repugs aren't waiting for something like this anyway. They're already heavily involved in calling registered Democrats with dis-information based on their own lists.

    by couldbeanyone on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 10:10:37 AM PDT

    •  Yes, and...

      ....if you think receiving a call from a fellow Democrat and hearing good things about why one should be sure to vote, just imagine how motivating it would be to almost anyone considering Kerry to receive a call from a repug whore -- I've gotten only one of those and whomever the caller was, they definitely will not be calling again.

      by understandinglife on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 10:26:08 AM PDT

      •  Any Republican calling me

        will hear some words s/he never heard in church, I'll tell you that.

        I just wish one of those right-wing kool-aid drinking, Bush-loving, war-mongering, ignorant zombie motherfu**ers WOULD call me. Grrrrr!!

        Okay...I'm going to calm myself down and call some people.

        by bliss149 on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 02:43:54 PM PDT

        •  Just finished calling a bunch of folk in Ohio..

          ...from Seattle! for ACT....gratifying, as I'm sure you know.

          You take care now and we'll get the job done on 2 Nov!

          "It's about America"

          by understandinglife on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 03:05:11 PM PDT

  •  possibly, but benefit outweighs risk

    I was concerned about this at first too.

    Two ways that Repubs could hurt the calling:

    Call people on the list to do disinformation, but they already have lists of people, as noted above.

    Sign up for calls but not do them.  This would only hurt if the overall effort is so successful that Party for America runs out of people to call.  I might be wrong, but I infer from their info on the website that they have access to call lists of more people than are likely to be called anyway.

    So I think the risk is minor, and far outweighed by the benefit.

    by Civil Sibyl on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 10:28:23 AM PDT

•  A reminder of how evil the repugs are...

  From the "Party for America" webpage:

  Virus Alert
  Around 10am Pacific Time, Oct 28, some bad people attacked our mail system. Our systems are intact, however,  these people are sending emails out in our name, some with attachments that contain viruses.  It appears that someone wishes we would go away.

  We won' t go away - and we hope that you won't either!  We never send attachments or require you to click on a link in an email in order to get your call list. If you receive such an email, delete it - it is not from us.  Be sure your virus protection is up to date.

  They won't stop us.  With your help, we are going to win.
  ----------------------------
  

  by understandinglife on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 10:30:47 AM PDT

  •  And why we must do this...

    I don't think 'evil' is too strong a word. And all it takes for evil to flourish is for good wo/men to stand by and do nothing.

    p.s. Did you sign up to make calls?

    by couldbeanyone on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 10:36:03 AM PDT

•  overkill?

  Is anyone worried about very aggressive GOTV efforts backfiring on us?  If an undecided voter gets 50 calls this weekend from Kerry supporters, they might be so annoyed as to stay home or even (shudder) vote for W.

  I can't imagine that there's coordination between the various groups making calls in swing states, to ensure that each undecided voter gets called only once...
  

  by LMCBoy on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 10:42:40 AM PDT

  •  These calls are to REGISTERED Democrats...

    ...so it's not about them being undecided, it's about getting the base out to vote.

    by couldbeanyone on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 10:52:06 AM PDT

    •  NO, they are NOT

      I have just gotten off the phone with my THIRD registered Republican, very much wondering why on earth I'm spending my minutes to call and GOTV for the wrong team.

      I have MAJOR questions about this. The scripts are terrible, the list does not seem to have been vetted very well, and the people I'm getting through to are PISSED.

      I think I may stop, a quarter of the way through my list, because I'm feeling like I'm doing more harm than good. I hate to sound like JamesB3, but I can see this backfiring in a big way.

      by adamgreenfield on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 01:05:02 PM PDT

      •  Extremely Sorry To Hear Your Tale...

        ...and I certainly understand your frustration.

        Did you know you can contact the GOTV people at this email address? They may shed some light on your experience.

        And PLEASE don't let this poor experience stop you. There are other posts here and elsewhere that tell of a happier experience with the lists. And even if this particular way didn't work out for you, you can also volunteer at Kerry-Edwards.

        But most importantly THANK YOU for your efforts. It's people like you who will bring victory home on November 2.
         

        by couldbeanyone on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 06:52:39 PM PDT

        •  They've heard from me.

          I'm begging off before I do any more damage, and redoubling my efforts with Downtown for Democracy.

          by adamgreenfield on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 07:58:53 PM PDT

          •  VERY Glad to Hear It...

            As far as I'm concerned it doesn't matter where you put the effort, just so long as you're putting the effort out there. Outstanding.

            Again, THANK YOU for all you've done, and all you will do.

            by couldbeanyone on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 08:41:13 PM PDT

  •  link for voters

    In this particular case, PartyforAmerica has an e-mail link for voters at the bottom of the page if they're getting deluged with calls.

    For voters: Are you getting too many calls?
    We are careful to contact each voter at most once - but other groups are also calling voters. Please click here to tell us if you are being called too often - and be as specific as you can (your phone number and when did you receive the call).  We only want to help you vote - we don't want to annoy you!

    I live in blue California and except for a few pre-recorded calls for propositions, the phone has been strangely silent for an election season.
    

    by lunacat on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 12:48:40 PM PDT

•  Be careful with phoning in swing states

  I worked a KE04 phone bank in Toledo, OH, last night.  Overall, it was successful, but many of these voters were extremely annoyed with the volume of calls coming in from "the Kerry-Edwards campaign."  We had to explain that the PACs and 527s were also calling, and that there was no coordination between these groups.

  In other words: beware of overloading the voters in these states and deterring them from showing up to the polls!

  I'd hate to think that, due to being harrassed by callers from ACT, MoveOn, and the official campaign, some voters would choose to stay home because they feel harrassed by the call volume.

  If anything, be sure to apologize for the call volume when calling.  Most of the people on these lists are on every call list used by the various groups and the KE04 campaign.  These people have been through the wringer, and just want to be left alone.  Most will be voting (or have voted, either due to absentee voting or early voting), but is it worth it to pester them into not voting?

  Just my $0.02 - your mileage may vary.

  by DCFD Rudi on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 10:51:13 AM PDT

  •  Excellent point...

    ...thanks for posting your experience (gave you a '4' rating).

    What I've said when I ran into this is... "I'm so sorry. It's just that so many people care about getting America back in the right direction. And your vote could make all the difference."

    Hasn't failed so far.

    by couldbeanyone on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 11:01:59 AM PDT

    •  It's true

      As a MoveOn precinct (ward) leader in Milwaukee WI, I can tell you that people are getting unbelieveably saturated with calls and canvassing.  It's to the point where if you knock on someone's door and they see a clipboard, they immediately shut the door again.  And let's not even mention the ads.  I have never seen anything like this in my life.

      We're all tired here.  I can't wait until Nov. 3rd.  I feel like a woman in her 9th month of pregnancy - I've gone through all the emotions, the ups and downs, and now all I want is for it just to be OVER.

      Sigh.  Must go canvass now.

      by Rumblelizard on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 11:19:59 AM PDT

      •  Thank You...

        ...you are an American hero. It's the effort of people like you that will take this nation back from the brink on November 2nd.

        by couldbeanyone on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 11:23:51 AM PDT

  •  canvassing also...

    We here in New York are sending bus loads of people to go door to door in Pennsylvania.  They all report that they are constantly running into MoveOn people working the same neighborhoods, everyone says that they have been contacted more than once.

    Both MoveOne and PA Dems say that they are going to cross people off the lists who have voted by mid afternoon Tuesday, and have their phone bank volunteers call those who haven't been crossed off.

    I can easily see someone being turned off by getting two or three calls during dinner on election day.

     

    by mpearl on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 01:03:59 PM PDT

  •  visibility

    Sign-waving in public is more my style.  People can ignore you if they want.  Nobody's forcing them to do anything but breathe the same air...

    by demgoon on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 07:09:50 PM PDT

•  I signed up instead of driving

  300 miles round trip to Kerry's Win New Hampshire rally today in Manchester. That would have been a feel-good exercise for me, but...

  My time is much better spent on the phone with voters.

  Thanks for posting!

  by willyr on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 10:55:06 AM PDT

•  Just a quick

  note on being 'overcalled' - I was away this weekend and when I came home I had six messages on my answering machine. Two pre-recorded 'Bill Clinton'messages, two from the Pennsylvania Dems, and  two regarding local races (by that time I was just bleeping over them.)

  I am committed enought that I didn't mind it, but holy cow that could get old really quick.

  On a more positive note - my kids and I counted 47 Kerry signs vs 6 for Bush in the space of about 15 miles (after getting off the highway.)  Yay!!!

  by Catriana on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 11:54:23 AM PDT

  •  My friends have received a lot of calls

    and are now screening them. But, oddly enough I have not received a single call. I was even a delagate to my State Democratic Convention, so I know that they have my phone number. Weird.

    "The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add an useful plant to its culture" -- Thomas Jefferson

    by tommurphy on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 12:48:23 PM PDT

    •  most of the calls

      are going to unlikely/sporadic voters who would probably vote democratic, and some are going to undecideds, but you are probably assumed to be a definite voter, and a definite democrat.
      

      by mdon860 on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 01:06:17 PM PDT

•  Voter fraud

  I can't wait to hear Tom Delay refer to DailyKos as "a website that actually teaches Democrats how to --and I quote-- Multiply your vote by 50 or even 100 times -- endquote."

  by Jumbo on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 11:59:03 AM PDT

  •  Thanks...

    ...for the much-needed laugh.

    p.s. Did you sign up to call?

    by couldbeanyone on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 12:11:06 PM PDT

•  How's it going?

  I signed up but haven't received my 50 names yet.  For people who are calling a list received from this group, does it seem worthwhile and positive?
  

  by markw on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 02:24:27 PM PDT

  •  well I just finished my 50 for Hamilton county OH

    The vast majority were disconnected lines or wrong #'s.  The next most frequent result was leaving a message.  I think I talked to 7 real people.  2 or 3 told me right out they were voting for Bush even though I never asked. The others seemed like they were for Kerry, and most of them were nice old ladies in a nursing home.

    What struck me was the emphasis these people put on "I'm voting for BUSH."  One guy even told me I should too.  I just kept on with the script making sure they knew their polling place was open and to bring ID.  One guy was pissed cause it was Halloween, so I just said thank you and hung up.

    All in all, I don't know how much it helped, but it was nice talking to the old ladies.  It also helped me that I had just finished watching Farhenheit 911 and was incredibly pumped.

    by viget on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 03:07:52 PM PDT

    •  I called Hamilton county too...

      and no one mentioned Bush!  

      Some of the phone numbers (13 out of 50) were wrong which is unfortunate, but I spoke to many people who were happy to have the 800# to confirm their polling place. I also spoke to several people who hadn't thought about bringing ID with them and were happy for the suggestion just in case.

      While the phonecorps for KE/04 is great, I found this to be very satisfying. I've requested another 50, thank you for the diary.

      by LA Dem on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 03:50:51 PM PDT

      •  Good Job!!!!

        Doesn't it feel great to know that you're helping end the nightmare?

        Keep up the good work. When we take Ohio you will be able to take a good share of the credit.

        by couldbeanyone on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 03:56:31 PM PDT

    •  Good Job and Good Post!

      It helped more than you will ever know. Those little old ladies just might make the difference.

      And if those were truly Bush voters you encountered elsewhere, just think how nervous it makes them that there's this kind of effort to get Kerry elected.

      Thanks for all you've done. Keep up the good work.

      by couldbeanyone on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 03:54:44 PM PDT

•  The above site v. Calls.johnkerry.com

  I've been making calls to the calls.JohnKerry.com site for a few weeks, to get people to show up for canvassing and GOTV and was planning to do more.

  However, at this point, the ACT page seems more critical, though I'm concerning about the overkill described in the comments.

  What are your thoughts on this v. the calls.JohnKerry.com site?

  by Upper West on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 05:35:38 PM PDT

  •  No 'Versus' Necessary...

    There's plenty of work to go around, and there will be plenty of volunteers for each.

    Just be glad there's so many people and organizations in for the good fight.

    by couldbeanyone on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 05:47:45 PM PDT

•  Be aware that some of these calls

  could also be the voter suppression attempts that have been in the news.

  So, keep doing what you're doing. Just try to keep it as positive as possible.
  

  by boadicea on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 05:54:53 PM PDT

•  A wistful thought

  Just imagine if we had a sane electoral system, instead of the ridiculous electoral college.

  The same 10 people in Ashtabula Ohio wouldn't be stalked 24/7 by canvassers, while for the millions of Americans in safe states, this election might as well be taking place on the moon.

  We could all be trolling for votes in our own neighborhoods, our own walks of life, talking to people who might be persuadable, who haven't already heard every argument in the book.

  I keep recalling the great joke that the election is going to be canceled, and the president selected by a focus group of 9 undecided voters in Ohio.

  I know more about the demographics of obscure precincts in Iowa and Florida than I ever cared to.  To be sure, it must be good for the local economies.  

  Dear god, if only we could get rid of this electoral college travesty.
  

  by sharman on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 06:25:07 PM PDT

  •  Very Good Point...

    ...and this, along with a movement to establish National Voting Standards (including paper trail for all e-voting) should be high on our list of priorities come Nov. 3.

    p.s. Did you sign up to make calls?

    by couldbeanyone on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 06:39:01 PM PDT

    •  I'm ashamed to say

      I've done no phoning or canvassing at all, but am signed up for election day.

      Now I'm a little scared.  Sure enough, as soon as I got done reading this thread, I see a new diary that ponders, um, are we maybe overdoing these phone calls a bit?  Every one I call is screaming, THIS IS THE 20TH CALL I'VE GOTTEN TODAY

      How about you?  Any personal experiences?

      I like the idea of some national standards for voting.  Damn, there is so much that needs to be done, and undone.  Dear god please, let us have both a Dem president and at least one house of Congress to work with.

      by sharman on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 07:03:26 PM PDT

•  Which is better?

  Call these ACT numbers, or go to a Kerry phonebanking? I'd use my cellphone for either one.

  by jfern on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 07:16:53 PM PDT

•  Ohio Paydirt

  Thanks to prodding from this diary, I contacted ACT and was emailed a list of 50 Ohio Democratic leaning voters to call to remind to vote, give polling hours,etc.  The tenth call went to a woman in Cincinnati (Mary) who lives in an assisted living home.  She told me she had requested an absentee ballot but it had never arrived, and that she really wanted to vote.  I asked her for the name and address of the home where she lived and promised her that I would do all I could to make sure she got to vote. Then I called the office and spoke to a lovely young woman who said she had been unaware of Mary's problems, but that she was helping some of the other residents to vote and would do the same for Mary.  Problem solved, one more Ohio vote for Kerry.  Many of the other calls produced good results with several encouraging conversations and almost no rudeness.  The ground game works.  Thanks couldbeanyone.

  by simplicity7 on Mon Nov 01, 2004 at 11:27:08 AM PDT

  •  No, Thank You...

    ...and bless you, and your good deeds. Your post is probably the last for this particularly diary, and I couldn't think of a happier ending.

    And isn't it amazing that a diary written by someone in a small mountain town of about 200 could mutliply its affect across the nation, and end up coming to the aid of an isolated old lady named Mary, in Cincinnati.

    Despite all the crap going on in the world, there are still wonders to behold.

    Peace, Simplicty7. You made it all worthwhile.

    by couldbeanyone on Mon Nov 01, 2004 at 09:22:16 PM PDT