The Courage to Canvass
Break the stranger barrier and you might find a friend at the door - and another vote to help protect your values
First, a note - I have corrected my previous post, “Black Lives [Have Always] Matter[ed]”, by replacing a photo I thought was Phillis Wheatley. Thank you, reader, for pointing it out.
A while ago I was in the kitchen and there was a knock at the front door. We recently moved to town from a home in the mountains, and this was one of the few times we’ve had a visitor. I dried my hands and opened the door, to find several young men in blue sports uniforms. “Hello," said one, “we’re on the Brevard College soccer team and we’re collecting for the canned food drive.”
I went to the cupboard and came back with some cans. The young men were friendly and I felt good about having this chance to contribute to my community. When Sam came home, he said he was sorry he missed them.
I still remember the good will of these strangers at my door. It gives me hope
Over the past few years we’ve all been made to feel suspicious of our neighbors, by angry voices in the news, in public meetings, and by some government officials. It seems unbalanced. I know there are many people like me who believe in a healthy, generous community, but they just aren’t out there. Sometimes I worry that my own little bit of weight is missing from the balance, and it bothers me.
Still, I was conflicted about going to canvassing training at our local Democratic Party headquarters. A friend told me how she feels about the same opportunity, and I recognized myself in her words.
I will not be doing door-to-door canvassing; yes, feeling a bit guilty but would also feel like a hypocrite if I participated. (I don't like to receive solicitations either by telephone or doorbell.) Yes, I did do literature "door knob drops" in our precinct some time ago.....before COVID.
Reluctantly, though, I went to the training. The young man leading our small group had the same calm, open air of conviction that the college students had at my door. A few years ago he canvassed with the Elizabeth Warren campaign. Now he’s bringing home what he learned, because he believes in the power of rural voters.
This year we have four candidates for City Council. It’s GOTV time, time to remind our own friendly voters to make a plan to go vote. We knock doors in teams, saying, “here’s where and when, and here’s why it matters”. Yes, it’s out of our comfort zone at first. But we all come back celebrating the connections we made.
I remember knocking a door and being greeted by a man who seemed a little out of sorts until he heard who we were, and by the time we had given him a voters’ rack card and were ready to leave, he said we had turned his day around for the better. Yes, he would vote. He will be one more voice for our values.
But, for me, those steps we took up to his door had begun with a fear of canvassing. Ruth Bader Ginsburg could have been thinking of me when she said,
Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.
I can take one step at a time. President Obama was talking about me when he said that change only happens when
ordinary people get involved, get engaged and come together to demand it. … Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.
Rosa Parks got on the bus. Later, she told us,
I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.
And, “In the final analysis,” said Eleanor Roosevelt,
a democratic government represents the sum total of the courage and the integrity of its individuals.
These historical Americans speak through every GOTV volunteer today — every door knocker, phone banker, texter, poll observer, poll greeter. One at a time, Democratic votes add up in our community, tipping the balance back toward our democratic values.
Recently a local canvasser for our City Council candidates came back to headquarters and said,
This was way outside my comfort zone. But my nervousness disappeared within 10 seconds of our knocking on the first door. Four people home. Age 20s through 80s. All good Dems, and very receptive. Four definite Democratic votes, anxious to get more involved — and a possible future candidate. It was fun!
I know that doing everything is not for everyone. And there are lots of ways to fight for our values against today’s NC Republican legislative attacks on democracy.
But I’m thinking of that volunteer who is on the verge of saying yes to the most effective way to activate friendly voters. With canvass training and teamwork, the rewards of breaking the stranger barrier may be worth the effort. You might find that a friend opens the door — which happened to me that day!
Step 1 is now. Sign up for GOTV with your county Democratic Party. In Brevard we have a training every Saturday until Voting Day.
Well said, Deda and well taken! I love all your Postcards so much! Linda D.