Coming to the Table
Register Voters Before the Deadline
What do the Caribbean Music Fest, the Farmers’ Market, Price Chopper, and the Carrot Festival have in common?
Good food, yes. But also, they’re great places to register voters.
Tabling at public events is an effective way to reach potential blue voters. I find it less intrusive, less intimidating, than knocking on doors or calling strangers—at a festival or market people kind of expect to chat with vendors and other folks. Generally, I’ve found almost everyone is pleasant, and at worst they just ignore you.
So consider giving it a try, if you haven’t already. Just give some thought to where you table—don’t set up outside Tractor Supply unless you want to register all the MAGA supporters in your neighborhood.
What do you need to table?
A table.
You don’t need a chair. It’s useless to sit behind a table looking at your phone or chatting with your fellow volunteer. You might as well stay home. You have to stand next to the table and (yes, it’s awful, I hate it) talk to passers-by.
I’ve found by far the most effective way to do this is to put it in the form of a question: What do you think about school shootings? or Are you concerned about women’s health care? Or the big question: “Are you registered to vote?
An absolutely astonishing number of people will reply that they don’t vote, hate politics, all candidates are crooks, or some other lame excuse. (A common fear is that registering to vote will mean you’ll get jury duty more often—this is not true.) I have to throttle back my urge to rant about civic duty, and instead ask more questions. Why don’t you think voting matters? Do you care about LGBTQ issues? How about the lack of public transportation, or school funding?
This is how we get out the vote, one conversation at a time. We gather around a table.
Once you’ve gotten your prey to slow their stride past your table, you’ve got them. For about eight precious seconds. Use them to make a few succinct points (“This election is going to be so close, every vote matters…”) If they’re willing to fill out a voter registration form, help them navigate the densely-printed, hard-to-read form. Make sure they sign it legibly, with their legal name as it appears on their ID, and date it. (Small but crucial details.)
And before they make their escape, be sure to stick a piece of paper in their hand. An extra voter registration form, or info on early voting dates and times. Information that makes it easier to vote.
What else? You also need permission from the event organizer or owner of the venue. This is the sticky part. I table with the League of Women Voters because as a nonpartisan organization they can go many places, like schools, that won’t allow politicking. But I’ve also tabled with a local chapter of Indivisible, and the Citizens’ Climate Lobby. Or you can hook on to a local progressive organization that already has a table at an event and ask if you can bring voter registration forms.
Which brings me to the next thing you need: voter registration forms. At least in New York State, you can just walk into the Board of Elections and ask for some. They’re quite suspicious that you might be up to no good, but so far they’ve reluctantly handed them over. Get familiar with the confusing, complicated form and read all of the tiny, tiny print. (Honestly, it’s almost like the Board of Elections doesn’t want people to vote.) You’ll need to help people fill the form out quickly—if it takes too long, they’re likelier to give up.
And you need a pen. Don’t forget a pen.
Foliage Fun, Pumpkin Sales, Harvest Festivals…fall is packed with get-togethers and celebrations. Voter registration can sneak into every place you go, from libraries to clinics to food pantries to schools to concerts…what else?
The only limit is the deadline. In New York State the registration deadline is October 26.
After that, it’s too late.
Dear Friends,
Are you agonizing over the election of 2024 and wondering what to do about it? I hope you’ll continue to check out The Optimistic Activist.
Every week I post some ideas for doing something. How to get out the vote, spread the word, and support progressive candidates. Ideas for simple but effective activism. As easy, as practical, as do-able as I can make them.
Together, I think, we could really make a difference.
“Optimism is a strategy for making a better future.”
--Noam Chomsky
