Our social media timelines brought us a lot of joy this week. They were filled with photos and stories of NJ 11th for Change folks out doing what we do best – connecting with voters. People were out writing postcards and letters, doing phone banks, and canvassing! SO MUCH CANVASSING. We love to see it! We asked a few of you to share your experiences and we know you will find them as hopeful and inspiring as we do. Read on, and then click the links in the Events section to join us and #dosomething!
We are launching our first ever KIDS CANVASS this Sunday in Bloomfield from 12pm- 3pm. Bring your future voters to knock some doors for Harris, Kim, Sherrill, and our local candidates! Will there be stickers? And face paint? And a poster making station? Will this be the cutest and most fun canvass ever? Yes, yes, yes and definitely yes!
https://www.mobilize.us/njvictory2024/event/695645/
Did you know New Jersey’s Vote By Mail ballots will be hitting mailboxes starting this Monday? The election starts NOW! Let’s get to work (and have some fun doing it!)
DO SOMETHING! STORIES
Co-Executive DIrector Mara Novak on the BlueWaveNJ bus to Allentown this past week.
Willie, Montclair
I have experienced the pleasure of knocking on doors in communities located in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. To see so many people care about the same issues that I care about, like the cost of food, housing, and gun violence, has really lifted my spirit and given me hope. Recently, I spoke with a Republican man, and we had a fantastic and interesting conversation. We were able to converse with each other and share our differences of opinion, and still be able to be kind and to each other without hatred. And I loved it. Thank you, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, for bringing out the kindness again.
Laura, Nutley
We’ve been saying this for years now, but it's still just as true: the stakes in the upcoming election could not be higher. The only thing that keeps me from devolving into a hopeless mess is this: every single day, I #dosomething. This past weekend, I was part of a team that made calls to high-frequency Dem voters in NJ to ask if we could count on their support for Andy Kim for Senate. For those of you who might have some anxiety about phone-banking: the platform is super easy to use. Although I had a high number of people who didn’t answer the phone for an unknown number, I was gratified by the conversations that I did have. My favorite? The gentleman who said “You sure can count on me! If it was legal to vote twice, I would!” We have 7 weeks until Election Day—and even less time before early voting begins; we have no time to waste, so #dosomething!
Andrea, Nutley
This past Saturday the Essex County Group of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America organized a canvassing event for Andy Kim and Mikie Sherrill in Cedar Grove. My husband agreed to pound the pavement with me, and at the last minute I was able to convince my 13-year-old son to join us (how many more years do I have left for this type of thing?!?). The weather on Saturday was lovely and the good-sized group in Cedar Grove was motivated to get out and make an impact. My family worked together through our list, encountering many garage sales, a nursing home, a dozen nice people, and a somewhat scary guard dog. Thankfully, we brought water, grapes and a few other snacks, which allowed us to rejuvenate during a break in our car. Once we got our momentum, we developed what we dubbed “our well-oiled machine.” My husband would use Mini-Van to look up the voter and tell me the info, my son would direct us to the right house and mark it off on the paper map, I would knock on the door and converse with the responder. If they didn’t answer the door, I would put my hand behind my back and my son would dutifully hand me some materials to leave at their doorstep. In the end, we knocked on 48 doors and walked about 8,000 steps. More importantly, we had a lot of laughs and several thoughtful conversations with voters who are committed to supporting our candidates.
Fern, Hanover
I am a veteran canvasser. I’ve been canvassing since 2017 when Mikie Sherrill entered the scene and have been doing it ever since. While I phone bank too, nothing compares to the conversations you can have when a person opens the door. Recently, I explained to a man who travels for work about the VBM ballot and how easy & early he can vote. I gave him the application (first checked who he was voting for) & he was thrilled to be able to do that. I also spoke to a Republican man who said he cannot vote for Trump because of his daughters. And then I explained why he needed to vote Democratic down the line because a President alone cannot change the laws.
Whether it is local campaigns or national campaigns, it’s always about making sure those people will vote and that they are aware of their choices. Some people are so happy to see us and it shows them how serious this election is and how important their vote is. And let’s face it, we have very talented candidates to talk about.
The last thing I’ll say is that we have fun doing this. Sometimes, we’re walking and splitting the turf and sometimes we share doors, but I enjoy sharing the experience with my friends and with people new to canvassing. So pick up a turf either in your town if you have local races or help out Sue Altman, a must flip district or go to PA on the bus or with ATNJ and let’s make sure we win this thing.
Stacey, Denville
My First Pennsylvania Canvas!
If you’re thinking of canvassing, do it! Saturday I took the Montclair Dems bus to Doylestown PA. It’s my first PA canvas, I signed up on my own, made newfound friends and had a blast. AND, there were so many first timers, and all ages. “I couldn’t sit it out” was a shared sentiment among us”. It felt like 2018!
We were well trained, well equipped with talking points and material, it was so organized, and our local drivers were an amazing resource and so grateful for the outpouring of help. The Doylestown office was PACKED. And people answered the door! I’d say 60-70% on my turf, and we got a lot of positive feedback.
There are carpools, there are buses, there are local canvasses. There are folks waiting to train you, help you, or partner up with you. You got this!
Canvassing bus playlist, as recommended by Stacey:
Are you ready for it? #dosomething
All Upcoming Events
Statewide Weekend of Action: Mailing of Vote-By-Mail Ballots begins
Saturday, Sep 21, 2024 The *s below show you connected events…
NJ 11th for Change Opportunities
NJ-11th for Change Kids Canvass event! (with Team Andy + Team Mikie in Bloomfield)
* Sunday, September 22, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Team Altman Morris County Canvass with Special Guest Rep. Andy Kim!
Saturday, September 28, 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Working America Letter-writing Campaign! Sign up to write letters (on your own schedule) to likely voters in swing states, encouraging them to think seriously about the likely effects of this election on health care!
Mikie Sherrill Opportunities
Weekly Canvass w/ the Morris County Dems
* Saturday, September 21, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
* Sunday, September 22, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
NJ-11th for Change Kids Canvass event! (with Team Mikie + Team Andy in Bloomfield)
* Saturday, September 22, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Mondays, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM (with the Montclair Dems)
Team Mikie & the Montclair Dems - Calls for Kamala Phonebank
Mondays, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Team Mikie Tuesday Phonebank w/ the Wayne Dems
Tuesdays, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Andy Kim Opportunities
Knock Doors with the Montclair Dems! (with Team Andy + Team Mikie in Montclair)
* Saturday, September 21, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
NJ-11th for Change Kids Canvass event! (with Team Andy + Team Mikie in Bloomfield)
* Saturday, September 22, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Andy Kim Canvassing with Team Altman in Morris County
Saturday, September 28, 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM (with the Montclair Dems)
Sue Altman Opportunities
Team Altman Morris County Canvass - Mt. Olive
* Saturday, September 21, 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Team Altman Morris County Canvass – Roxbury Twp.
Saturday, September 28, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Team Altman Morris County Canvass with Special Guest Rep. Andy Kim!
Saturday, September 28, 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Sue Altman Phone Bank (with the Montclair Dems)
Wednesdays at 5:00 PM
Tuesdays, at 6:00 PM
Harris/Walz Campaign Opportunities
Wednesday, September 25, 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM
National Black Voters for Harris Phone Bank (Virtual)
Saturday, September 21, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM …and following Saturdays!
Team Mikie Weekly Phonebank for Kamala Harris! (Virtual)
Mondays, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Harris for President Phone Bank
Thursdays at 6:00 PM (with the Montclair Dems)
PA Buses to canvass with the Montclair Dems
Saturday, September 21, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
“Indivisible” Campaign Opportunities
Join a virtual letter-writing party with partner Vote Forward; we’re writing letters to voters in key House districts as part of The Big Send -- a collective effort to send 10 million letters to voters this year.
Thursday, September 19, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Not available that day? We have more opportunities to write letters with Vote Forward on October 3.
Voter Registration: Information and Opportunities
Wayne Day at Wayne Valley High School: The Wayne Democratic Club needs your help to reach voters at our booth; no experience necessary–training available for positive voter interaction. E-mail [email protected] to sign up and/or ask questions.
Sunday, September 22, 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
League of Women Voters Voter Registration Calendar
Newark (Old First Presbyterian Church): Thursday, September 19, 11:30 AM
Montclair Fall Festival (St. Mark’s United Methodist Church): Saturday, September 21, 10:00 AM
Montclair Kimberley Academy: Wednesday, September 25, 11:00 AM
Newark (Old First Presbyterian Church): Friday, September 27, 11:30 AM
All Things Voting in Essex County: Thursday, September 26, 7:00 PM
Everything you need to know about how to vote in the 2024 election, with Julianne Grosso from the Essex County Clerk‘s Office.
Texting for Democracy: Voter Registration in Key States
Do any time, any day!
