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Friday, October 15, 2004
What We Do From Here on Out
Posted by DavidNYCToday, October 15th, is the final FEC filing deadline of this election cycle. We're soon going to find out which campaigns fared well and which fared poorly over the last quarter. What this also means is that we're reaching the point where donations of cash are less important than donations of time. A fat bank account can't do voter outreach and get people to the polls on election day.
This is where we come in. If you haven't already, it's time to volunteer. I've plugged many groups, but as I've said before, the one I recommend most highly is America Coming Together. There are three reasons for this. First, ACT is everywhere - they almost certainly can get you plugged in near where you live. Second, everyone I know who has worked with ACT has had a great experience. And third, ACT is in this for the long haul. Like everyone else, ACT wants to - and plans to - win right now. But they also are taking the long view of things and want to help build the party for years to come.
If you want to hook up directly with a campaign, you can certainly call the Kerry people. One alternative I would suggest, though, is that you see if there are any smaller local or state campaigns in your area. To find out which races are the most competitive, visit ActBlue, which also has links to candidates' websites.
Finally, if you are a lawyer, law student or legal professional, your special skills will be of critical importance on election day. I don't need to remind anyone about the importance of making sure huge numbers of Americans don't get disenfranchised again. For law students, check out Impact 2004, which is the group I'm getting involved with. They offer training sessions and volunteer opportunities in swing states. Impact is part of an umbrella group called the Election Protection Coalition, which is another place you can sign up, particularly if you're an attorney. And lastly, there is the Democratic Party's Voting Rights Institute, which also wants volunteers.
Readers: If you've done work with a campaign or other pro-Dem group, please tell us about your experience in the comments. And if you want to make a pitch for a particular group, do that as well.
Posted at 01:52 PM in Activism | Technorati
Comments
All I'd like to add is that all of us who read these types of sites and can at all volunteer had better be signed up to do GOTV the four days before the election, either at home or in a swing state nearby! I signed up through my county Democratic Party. Kerry may or may not carry Colorado, but there are other races as well.
-- Marc
Posted by: Marc Cittone at October 15, 2004 03:41 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment