This morning, I woke up and canvassed for Sharice Davids in Kansas 3rd District. I walked to a door and met with a young voter — my walk sheet said she was 24. She walked out with a K-State shirt on, my home university, and told me that she didn’t really think voting was that important until things went wrong in Dodge City. If people were working so hard to stop people from voting, it made logical sense that voting must be very important.
Over the last few weeks, my fellow coworkers at Daily Kos, and members of our State Democratic Party, worked diligently to help provide people access to vote. Whether it was work we did in North Dakota for American Indians, canvassing districts in Kansas City, Kansas, or arranging rides in Dodge City, everyone came together to work hard to make sure that every voter who wanted to vote would have that opportunity.
Teresa Krusor, Kansas National Committeewoman, took to Dodge City right away to help work on behalf of the state party — but that wasn’t the only effort that came to pass. This week, I want to talk about what was done to help get our voters to the polls.
The outpouring of support was immediate — Willie Nelson, Melissa Ethridge, and other celebrities especially country music performers — were aghast at the idea that a town so entrenched in American folklore would now be known less for its place in cowboy legends, and instead it might be remembered for voter suppression.
Over the last few weeks we’ve had tour busses sent and arrived, we raised money and resources, and we worked to build the long-term goals in Ford and nearby Finney county, two communities that are majority-minority communities, but could not be run more differently. Finney county, home of Garden City, has a similar population, but multiple polling places and an eagerness to make sure all voters have a chance; whereas in Ford, the options are limited.
Both of these communities are Republican strongholds — in part because less than 20% of the minority population votes at all; disenfranchised before we start, and as a systemic problem, have lost interest in trying to participate due to roadblocks.
How do you change that? Thanks to so many online and elsewhere donating money, the Kansas Democratic Party did things it hasn’t done before. In Dodge City High School there is a young Democratic Club. High school students who want change. Rather than leave these young, eager kids on the sideline, we offered them jobs to help us canvass and turn out their parents and friends. The most powerful voice in the room is often the voice of young leadership that can tell you the world they want when they grow up.
Next, the state party and others began advertising in English and Spanish, through local radio, TV, and newspapers, including local Spanish language newsletters sent to parents and factory workers.
We arranged multiple busses and escorts during early voting and for election day.
More than 12 people on paid staff will be working to assist in these communities. How does that compare to the past? In 2014, there were none. This is a new commitment to non-major metro communities and to our rural communities. A sign that we are a party that believes these communities may not turn overnight into Democratic safe districts, but there are Democratic votes there, and we have an obligation to go out and work to bring them in.
Every day I get asked by people all over the country: how can we help? What can we do to help? People who want to volunteer and drive to Dodge City. Whether you are in Kansas or anywhere else in the country, I just want to say: thank you for all your support. What we need of every volunteer worker anywhere in the state is to make sure everyone you know in your state house and US house district turns out and votes. To make sure Democratic voters know that this election is incredibly important for our state and for our country. Outside of a meat packing plant this morning, Democratic workers who traveled from all over worked to make sure that people knew where and how to vote.
Tuesday night, when your polls close, take a breath. A deep, long breath. But think to yourself: I did everything I could to help our candidates win, Democratic elected all the way down the line.
You'll be glad you did.
What are you doing in your local area
for the upcoming election?