The fate of the nation is in your hands

A voting population as diverse as America itself would be very bad news for Trump.  By productively countering Republican efforts to reduce the number of people voting we make a Harris victory far likelier.  If our fundraising is strong enough we will use it to support and help professionalize voter registration efforts in the six swing states, but we do not need big bucks to begin. 

No one is calling you from headquarters, you need to do this on your own.  If you begin, old and new friends will join you.  If you are convinced that this is the right approach here is what you should do:

 

The Easy Things to Do

  1. Contribute to Redefeat Trump to register new voters
  2. Contribute to the Democratic Party and the Harris campaign
  3. The DNC’s Take Action section  is great.  Sign up for a Call Crew or for the Reach app to find people you know.
  4. Democrats.org also lists state party sites so you can volunteer with your state, county, town, and city party organizations.
  5. Google “Trump’s Lies and Lunacies,” print it and hand it to anyone who has not yet made up their minds.
  6. Do not assume everyone you know is registered.  Send an e-mail to 50 friends to remind them to register, with a link to the form to print out or do online.
  7. Express your views with an original bumper sticker.
  8. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper.
  9. Set up a voter registration table outside the mall, your church, sporting events and wherever people gather.  Bring stamps so the forms can go right into the mail.
  10.  Post angry missives filled with F-bombs and aggressively confront Trump supporters wherever you find them.  This will do nothing at all to win the election so consider it more therapy than anything else.

Easy Things to do to Defeat Trump

The Hard Things to Do

  1. Get some voter registration forms from your Board of Elections.  Here are state-specific instructions.  Far better to use your state-approved form than the National Voter Registration form.  Or use the online version of the National Voter Registration form, which you can complete live at a potential new voter’s doorstep.
  2. Anyone registering must be an American citizen age 18 or over by Election Day 11/5/24.  Never give anything of value to  a citizen to complete a voter registration form.
  3. Dress to display your partisan identity, with any Democratic or pro-Harris shirts or buttons.  Let them know you are canvassing to find voters for the Democrats to vote against Trump.  If you uncover unregistered Republicans they will know this activity is not for them. If they slam the door go to the next one.
  4. Registering voters in your own neighborhood or office building can work. Tell the potential new voter you live or work nearby. If you can, set a fixed place and time to meet, like Saturday at 11:00 AM in front of City Hall, so anyone reached by word-of-mouth knows how to connect up with you.  Turn this into a local Meet Up to recruit more volunteers.
  5. Introduce yourself to the Democratic Election Commissioner at your Board of Elections.  Ask for the voter file for your ward, precinct or election district.  Start with heavily Democratic areas.  It should not cost more than a few dollars.  Get it as a “street list” if you can.  The regular listing  displays voters alphabetically by last name.  The street list  shows voters by street address, so you can walk down the street with it and see who is registered at each address.  You can identify households with multiple Democrats and ask if there are any family members not yet registered.  Knock on the doors at addresses that have no registered voters.
  6. You do not have a street list?  No problem!  Choose an apartment buildings and just start knocking on doors.  Renters are more likely than homeowners to be Democrats.  If they refuse to open the door and talk to you just move on.                         If you do not have a list of  voters it is best to canvass in traditionally Democratic neighborhoods, which typically means neighborhoods of mixed race and ethnicity.  Or ask the Democratic Election Commissioner where the most Democratic areas are.
  7. Complete the voter registration form while still with the voter and get their signature.  If they ask you to leave the form you should, but ask for a phone number and/or an e-mail address so you can confirm in a week that it was completed and sent.  This is now your voter.  You must follow up with them the weekend before Election Day to remind him or her, offer to drive them or babysit their kids.
  8. Not everyone in your address book is registered.  Reach out to your Christmas card list via e-mail. And don’t forget about clubs, meetings, sporting events or anywhere you can meet and talk to people.  Visit assisted living facilities.  Stay away from funerals, but most other events are fair game.  Finding new voters at random public events not as good a method but you can make it work.  Think about a field trip to a nearby swing state.  
  9. Put a postage stamp on the voter registration forms and mail them in one at a time, or drop them off in small numbers at the Board of Elections.  Do not proudly appear with 50+ completed registration forms or a MAGA Republican Election Commissioner will accuse you of « vote harvesting » or whatever pejorative they use to try and stop Democratic voter registration efforts. 
  10. If you come upon someone representing a private property adjacent to the public space you’re using and they attempt to run you off remind them that electioneering is Constitutionally-protected speech.  If all else fails, move to a new spot or invite them to call the police.  
  11. If you encounter an enthusiastic Democrat ask for their help registering voters.  Ask for a contribution to redefeattrump.com/donate. Ask if they are part of a group you might address.  Ask if they need an application for an absentee ballot for anyone in the household who will not be home on Election Day, such as students or active duty military.  Then be sure to send the potential absentee voter an absentee ballot application form that you get from the Board or Elections.
  12. Carry a clipboard so that when they look out their window to check you out they are reassured that you do not mean them harm.
  13. This is beyond voter registration but very useful: At the Board of Elections ask for the list of Democrats and independents who have requested an absentee ballot.  This is likely updated every month.  Also ask for the list of people who have requested military ballots.  Call, text, send an e-mail or a postcard to all the Democrats, reminding them how important it is.
  14. If the police or private security goons try to shut you down don’t be afraid to make a fuss. Let local reporters know that they are engaged in illegal voter suppression activities and that you are working to save American democracy from the ignorant, violent fascist hordes.  
  15. Get attention by using local neighborhood listservs, podcasts, cable public access shows, non-commercial and public radio stations, public service announcements and other means to publicize your efforts and find more volunteers.  Post your picture  to your Facebook, X, Twitter or Instagram pages so your friends know what you’re up to and are inspired to help.
  16. Bring some ID, and go out as a group or at least in pairs. If you have mobility challenges you can reach out by phone and then  have someone deliver a voter registration form.
  17. Rehearse what you’ll say about why you support Vice President Harris but do not linger to have a political discussion.  Excuse yourself and go to the next house.  If they will not politely let you go then take out your cell phone and put it to your ear, telling them you must take this urgent call and wander off.
  18. You do not need to mention Redefeat Trump unless that helps you tell them which side you’re on.  The best way to identify yourself is that you are working to defeat Trump, not that you are campaigning on behalf of Harris or the Democrats.  Those who loathe Trump will identify themselves. 

Difficult Things to Do to Defeat Trump

The work you are doing is slow but if you are methodical you may get the actual very tiny margin of victory.  Remain upbeat and positive.  Do not be triggered by MAGA provocations. If you turn over a rock and find a MAGA Republican living there, seemingly without water, air or the nutrients necessary to support human life please gently place the rock back in its original position and continue onward.

 If you send us stories or reports or vignettes of your adventure in registering voters we’ll post and publicize some of them.  This requires a good deal of patience.  Set a goal.  If you get even 5-10 people registered this way that is HUGE.

Expect a post-election fight over the results.  The Republicans have invented an appalling new phase in American elections, in which we have not been well-prepared to counter.  This has been forced upon the nation by Republicans baselessly undermining election integrity and refusing to concede when they lose.  Be ready to mobilize support for honest elections.  Follow the lead of local Democrats to organize counter-demonstrations, and make plans to be in Washington on 6 January 2025 to defend the honor and integrity of our nation’s electoral process.  If you have a bullet-proof vest, wear it.  If you have a weapon, do not bring it.