Two years ago, record numbers of voters turned out to end the reign of Donald Trump. We came together, volunteered, dragged our friends to the polls, and promised reluctant voters that their hard work would pay off.
In return, we’ve seen an end to abortion rights, the student loan forgiveness we were promised is falling apart, we still haven’t reunited all the kidnapped immigrant children with their families, criminal justice reform is slow to nonexistent, and things feel scarier than ever.
There are reasons, of course. And things would have been so much worse if we hadn’t all turned out to vote. But to a reluctant voter who doesn’t fully understand how the system works, the last 2 years look a lot like failure. And that makes it even harder to get folks to turn out.
This weekend is our last chance to convince people to go to the polls. And if we’re going to do it, we have to do it right. People do not respond well to condescending lectures, nor to being blamed for problems they didn’t cause—especially when they are victims of those very problems, as in the case of people being crushed under the weight of student debt.
So how do we get people to vote? Here are five strategies that may actually work with your skeptical friends and family.
Hope, Not Shame
To vote at a time of such upheaval and fear is an act of profound hope for the future. And for a lot of people, it’s hard to muster hope right now. We need to do whatever we can to counteract hopelessness, and that begins with killing shame, not stoking it.
Shame is an incredibly ineffective strategy for getting people to vote—and unfortunately, it’s the go-to for many of us on the left.
When shame does work, it induces a sense of guilt and hopelessness that does not inspire action. But more often, the would-be shamer fails to induce feelings of shame. And instead, the target becomes self-righteous and combative, making them less likely to vote.
Try hope instead. Talk about the fact that things can get better, and that the only way they will is if better people slowly and steadily gain power. Inspire the person you’re talking to. Give them a chance to feel like a hero for voting. And give up on shaming them for all the times in the past they’ve failed to vote.
Lead With Empathy
Every time I write about people who don’t vote, I get a stream of angry comments lecturing me about how awful people are for not voting, how terrible I am for talking about them as if they matter.
I want to ask these people: Do you want to win elections? Or do you want to bask in your own self-righteousness as the country goes down in flames?
People are suffering. And often, the people suffering the very most are the ones who don’t vote. Telling them their concerns are silly or that they are selfish isn’t going to change things.
Empathy might. Empathize with their disappointment. It is outrageous that the Democrats keep catering to the middle, instead of to those who voted for them. It is offensive that everyone keeps asking women to put reproductive rights on the back burner. Showing that you care is a great way to get people to listen to you. So listen to people who are righteously—and rightly—indignant. Then talk to them about how voting can help.
Civics 101
Civic education in this country is terrible. And a lot of people don’t understand that the president cannot change things on his or her own, that radical change takes time, and that the courts can overrule just about all progress.
Listen carefully to people’s complaints. Then explain to them, patiently and without condescension, how voting changes things. If someone is mad about the death of Roe, emphasize how very important it is to get more seats on the Supreme Court. In fact, given how the courts are actively seizing power, that’s probably the answer to a lot of voter concerns. People who understand how things work are much more inclined to want to play a part in the solution.
Progress Happens Over Time: Voting as Resistance
Voting is a powerful act of resistance. Framing it this way can inspire people to take their passion to the polls, rather than to Facebook and silly arguments with friends. But change doesn’t come overnight. It never has. Republicans intuitively understand this. They played the long game for 50 years with abortion rights, and they finally won. We have to dig in and be willing to do the same, not perennially get distracted by each new outrage. Explain to your non-voter friends that voting is all about playing the long game, so that we can make slow and steady progress.
What if your loved one doesn’t want slow and steady progress? What if they’re calling for revolution and radical change? That’s fine. They still need to vote. Because until radical change comes, real people are suffering. That suffering will only get worse. Voting offers a path to minimize suffering until something better comes along.
Barriers to Voting
People lead busy, stressful lives. And the most disadvantaged people are often the busiest and most stressed. It can be hard for them to vote—harder still if they’re giving up time with their kids, pay at work, or sleep to do something they think won’t make a difference. Remember that voting is often most difficult in poor and marginalized areas. Someone who is in and out in 10 minutes has little room to judge someone who must wait 7 hours to vote.
If you really care about voting, you must also care about the people you hope to encourage to vote. Listen to them when they say they face barriers. Don’t demean them or tell them their problems aren’t real. Offer a solution. Watch their kids. Make them dinner. Drive them to the polls. If you want other people to make sacrifices to vote, be willing to make sacrifices of your own.
We determine who wins on Tuesday. All of us. And for the good guys to win, we have to act like good guys. Don’t sit in judgment. Offer help and education. Support people to overcome structural barriers to voting. People want to feel good about themselves and their choices. Give them the opportunity to feel that way now, and they’re much more likely to vote.
