Get involved, today!

There are many ways to get involved the political process. Everyone has special qualities that they can use to help a candidate or an issue.

Party activities are more diverse and fun with a large group of volunteers. If you are interested in getting involved, contact your local Democratic Party. A link has been provided under Links.

You can be useful to campaigns by:

1. Get involved with the coordinated campaign. When it comes to money, Republicans always out-raise and out-spend Democrats. As a result, Democrats must work smart to maximize our resources. The best way to maximize Democratic resources during a campaign season is by getting involved in the Coordinated Campaign (CC) of your state.

What is a Coordinated Campaign? Simply put, it's an organization that coordinates the various campaign activities of the State Democratic Party and all the major Democratic candidates in that area. For example, all Democratic candidates need Get-Out-the-Vote operations. But rather than each campaign contacting the same people, the Coordinated Campaign conducts GOTV efforts on behalf of the entire Democratic Party.

2. Listen/call in to talk radio shows. This is absolutely a must-do activity!! During campaign seasons, listen constantly to local and national talk radio programs. Make sure you call in to radio shows to explain why you support the Democratic candidate.

3. Write an op-ed piece. Use your position as a DNC supporter to get an op-ed piece published. Provide specific examples of how an issue that Democrats support and Republicans oppose has directly affected your family -- including lower crime rates, better economy, and patients’ rights.

4. Write a letter to the editor. The "Letters to the Editor" section is often the most widely read section of the newspaper. Use your position as a DNC supporter to get letters published. For more information about writing letters to the editors of local papers, visit the ONU College Dems' Letters to Editors page to learn more.

5. Take out an ad in the local paper. Can't get your letter or op-ed published? Consider paying for an ad trumpeting Democratic values or highlighting Democrat-supported issues that help working families. Ad too expensive? See if other like-minded Democrats will help offset the cost.

6. Be a campaign surrogate. Volunteer to be a campaign surrogate speaker and help recruit other credible speakers. Everyone has skills and experiences that can bolster campaign message efforts -- think creatively to figure out how you can get directly involved in local efforts. Examples:

• Doctors can speak with authority at a press conference about patients’ rights;

• People who have benefited can talk about how Democrats gave them a minimum wage increase;

• Parents can talk about how the Democrats’ Family and Medical Leave Act has improved their lives and made their family closer;

• Grandparents can talk about the importance of protecting Social Security and Medicare, and how Republican program cuts would hurt their finances.

7. Hold rallies and message events. Pro-actively organize rallies to support your local Democratic candidates. "Information networks" will help recruit attendees and share logistical information. Attending Democratic candidate rallies not only shows your support, but also helps to counter any protest rallies created by the GOP.

• Go door-to-door on weekends, staff phone banks in the evening, and hand out literature;

• Work with the local Democratic party to set up a "Democratic Candidate" information table at the mall, county fair, grocery store, or other public places.

• People with special skills like: lawyers, accountants, computer network technicians, librarians and other professionals can contribute their expertise.
  

9. Register people to vote. Many states allow individuals or organizations to become "Deputy Registrars" to help register voters (contact your local county election office for details). Register new voters at grocery stores, colleges, and other public gathering places. If you know college students, work with them to register as many students as possible -- and get them to the polls on Election Day, or make sure they have absentee ballots. Make sure you and all members of your extended family are registered to vote.

• Canvass door-to-door in targeted areas;

• Phone bank the week/weekend before Election Day;

• Give rides to the polls, and

• Monitor polling sites for GOP "voter intimidation" tactics designed to keep Asians, Hispanics, African-Americans and others from voting.
  

11. Monitor third party groups. Keep a sharp eye out for allegedly "independent" Republican third-party groups, which often use secret, last-minute TV/radio attack ads, mailings, and telephone calls to steal elections from Democrats. If you see or hear one of these attacks, immediately notify the local Democratic candidate being attacked, along with your State Party. They will work with the national media to stop these possibly illegal attacks.

12. Be the eyes & ears of a campaign. If you hear that the GOP Leadership (Dennis Hastert & company) are coming to town, notify the local Democratic campaign and your State Party. In the week before the election, get copies of the Christian Coalition's misleading voter guides. Take several copies and immediately give/fax them to the Coordinated Campaign, and your State Party.

13. Write a check. Money is the lifeblood of elections. Write a check to a state Coordinated Campaign, the DNC or one of the other national committees. Also contribute directly to Democratic candidates in targeted races in your state.

14. Throw a house party. Organize a fundraising partye at your home. Invite friends, family, neighbors, and active political volunteers -- the candidate does not have to be there. Work with your local party or a targeted candidate of your choice. A house party must be done as early as possible to pay for media buys, literature drops, mailings and phone banks. For information on organizing house parties, contact your State Party.

15. Donate supplies. Campaigns can always use more fax machines, copiers, TVs, VCRs, computers, hand-held tape recorders and office supplies. Consider donating or loaning these items to the Coordinated Campaign, the State Democratic Party, or a targeted campaign. Donations/loans allow more money to be spent for media buys, literature drops, mailings, etc.