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Edited on Wed Sep-20-06 12:17 AM by SouthPasadenaDem
Precinct Captains get computerized lists from Democratic HQ of all the registered Democrats in the particular voting precinct. Hopefully, it's the precinct you live in. You are responsible for visiting (or having your Block Captains visit) or phone (if there is a telephone number provided.). Of course, visiting is best. You ask them about three or four simple questions, fill in the bubbles on the computerized form, offer to arrange for bumperstickers, yardsigns and such should they like to order them. Find out if there are any old folks who need a ride to the polling place on election day, so that HQ can arrange that. You will turn in your computerized lists once they are completed and may be asked to report periodically and by telephone your results.
Closer to the election you will be issued new lists to do a literature drop (literature provided by HQ.) Your new lists will be based on and reflect the results of your simple questions, above. (i.e. people who were undecided will probably get more literature.)
Right before Election Day, you will likely be issued door hangers with (a) a reminder to vote and (b) the list of Democratic candidates. You'll vist all Democrats in the precinct and hang one on each Democratic door. Do not put anything in a mailbox. Mailboxes are verboten.
As the name Precinct Captain implies, you are probably responsible for the the registered-Democrat neighbors in your entire voting precinct, i.e. all those Democrats who vote at the same polling place you do. If you live in my neighborhood in South Pasadena, (an "inner-ring suburb" of Los Angeles) it works out to about twenty square blocks, mixed apartments and single family homes. If you live in the country, it will probably be a larger area. If you live in New York City, it could work out to only a few square blocks of big apartment buildings. It all depends. Figuring out how many households you have to visit is key. If you live in Red State Hell, you might be able to cover all the Democrats in your precinct yourself. In San Francisco, you get lots more Democrats. Get your lists NOW so you can total up who all you have to visit and where. Preparation is key.
This is where Block Captains are going to come in handy. Block Captains are your friends. A Good Thing. Figuring out how much ground you have to cover, how much you can realistically cover yourself and, if necessary, recruiting yourself some Block Captains from your Dem friends and neighbors is a high priority right now, six weeks out (unless, of course, HQ is providing you with volunteers, which is nice, but let's face it, unlikely.) RECRUIT SOME FRIENDS NOW. Call in some favors. Whatever you have to do. Four friends to help do the walking and talking, especially if you work full time, can make the difference in making this a good experience for you. And it's always less intimidating and more fun when you walk it in pairs.
What you can to do, if you have lots of ground to cover, is host a couple of walk days where you invite your volunteer Block Captains over for Saturday morning coffe and coffeecake, split up the lists, and walk and visit for 2 or 3 hours. Maybe the following week, on Sunday you feed your Block Captains afternoon tea and sandwiches and try to catch people who work Saturdays and you missed before. Sunday afternoon is a great time to catch people at home. Only two or three hours at a time. People get tired of walking and talking. Be sure to have small carryable water bottles at the house for people to take along with.
Good luck and thanks, fellow Democrat!
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