I did some Get Out The Vote (GOTV) today.
What the hell is that?
Well, it’s pretty much one of these things:
It’s a little late for that last one, but I did walk around and knock on about 40 to 50 doors this morning around the slant street neighborhoods here in Missoula…Woodford, Edith, Brooks and Stephens mainly.
What the hell is that?
Well, it’s pretty much one of these things:
- Walking around and knocking on doors and telling people to vote;
- Calling people on the phone and telling them to vote;
- Sending out literature telling people to vote.
It’s a little late for that last one, but I did walk around and knock on about 40 to 50 doors this morning around the slant street neighborhoods here in Missoula…Woodford, Edith, Brooks and Stephens mainly.
Getting Out the Vote in Missoula
Most people weren’t home so I just left an Amanda Curtis and John Lewis flyer on their door. This was often difficult as the two flyers were different sizes.
There were quite a few people at home too, and I talked to them and told them to vote for Wheat and Rice, and I also ran into a few people walking dogs and told them about some candidates and issues and that initiative about the State Auditor title…which I sure don’t remember the name of but told them of nonetheless.
There were quite a few people at home too, and I talked to them and told them to vote for Wheat and Rice, and I also ran into a few people walking dogs and told them about some candidates and issues and that initiative about the State Auditor title…which I sure don’t remember the name of but told them of nonetheless.
GOTV in Missoula
There was one woman talking to someone in a car and I was walking by so shouted to them.
“Hey, are you voting tomorrow?”
“Yes we are.”
“Do you need any info on the Democratic candidates?”
“Oh, we’re Republicans.”
“Oh…well, then please don’t vote.”
“Oh, we’re voting!”
So that was fun. Other than that, however, there wasn’t a whole lot exciting about it.
One house had a warning sign with a tiger and a message saying something to the effect of ‘is it really that important?’
I thought it was so went in and there was this open porch area – which is always kind of weird. So I walked up there and knocked on the outer door, but then saw a woman in talking on the phone. I just waived at her and left some flyers and said fuck it.
That’s one of the things about getting out the vote in Missoula – people are often accosted.
I’ve had about 4 people knock on my door in the past week, and when I mentioned this to the young woman from Utah working in the Missoula center today, she said they just keep on ‘em.
I’m not sure that’s the best strategy, but I what the hell do I know? Another thing I noticed was people using their cell phones to call people. I was going to ask when I went back in and dropped off my list around noon if they had actual land lines, but I forgot. See, I’m not going through $20 on my phone to call people, I’m sorry.
Of course I don’t know if that’s the case or not – maybe the people calling want to use their cell phones.
Something else I noticed was a lack of Curtis and Lewis signs. They had a bunch of Diane Sands and Matt Lowy signs in the entryway, but I don’t want those. I want a Amanda Curtis sign, damn it, one I can put in my yard overnight before the landlord notices and sends me a letter saying if I don’t take it down by November 7th they’ll take it down at my expense.
“Hey, are you voting tomorrow?”
“Yes we are.”
“Do you need any info on the Democratic candidates?”
“Oh, we’re Republicans.”
“Oh…well, then please don’t vote.”
“Oh, we’re voting!”
So that was fun. Other than that, however, there wasn’t a whole lot exciting about it.
One house had a warning sign with a tiger and a message saying something to the effect of ‘is it really that important?’
I thought it was so went in and there was this open porch area – which is always kind of weird. So I walked up there and knocked on the outer door, but then saw a woman in talking on the phone. I just waived at her and left some flyers and said fuck it.
That’s one of the things about getting out the vote in Missoula – people are often accosted.
I’ve had about 4 people knock on my door in the past week, and when I mentioned this to the young woman from Utah working in the Missoula center today, she said they just keep on ‘em.
I’m not sure that’s the best strategy, but I what the hell do I know? Another thing I noticed was people using their cell phones to call people. I was going to ask when I went back in and dropped off my list around noon if they had actual land lines, but I forgot. See, I’m not going through $20 on my phone to call people, I’m sorry.
Of course I don’t know if that’s the case or not – maybe the people calling want to use their cell phones.
Something else I noticed was a lack of Curtis and Lewis signs. They had a bunch of Diane Sands and Matt Lowy signs in the entryway, but I don’t want those. I want a Amanda Curtis sign, damn it, one I can put in my yard overnight before the landlord notices and sends me a letter saying if I don’t take it down by November 7th they’ll take it down at my expense.
Missoula's Professional Property Management isn't a good place to rent from as they're always hard-up for money.
Anyways, those are just observations I had today. I kind of feel my observations about electoral politics aren’t really wanted this close to the election, so it’s good there’s other things to keep me busy right now.
Anyways, vote. (unless you're a Republican)
Anyways, vote. (unless you're a Republican)
