Nine Ways to Get Out the Vote: Social Distancing Edition DLCC Follow Mar 24 · 4 min read

As we all try to grapple with the new reality of social distancing & self quarantining, many are eager to stay engaged in the election that’s less than eight months away. While we don’t want to politicize a global pandemic, it’s clear that Democratic policies like paid family leave and vote by mail are only made more relevant, urgent, and necessary by the spread of the coronavirus.

The top priority needs to be keeping our families healthy and economically stable, but it’s also imperative that we come out of this with a strong democracy, ready to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. Here are some things you can do from your home to stay engaged leading up to the 2020 elections.

Reach out to your networks. Mental health experts are already telling us that it’s important to stay connected with our family and friends through video calls, social media, and messages just checking in. Why don’t you add a voter engagement goal to that!

This is an increasingly popular campaign tool called relational organizing. Try to talk to at least 3 people a week about the importance of voting blue in the next election. Health care access, economic inequality, and strong social safety nets are at the top of people’s minds, making right now a good opportunity to highlight how Democratic policies like expanding Medicaid and raising the minimum wage are critical.

At home volunteer opportunities. Reach out to the state Dem campaigns in your area or across the country and ask about opportunities for getting out the vote from the safety and comfort of your home. You can participate in text banks or phone banks, send postcards to your neighbors, or promote video town halls on your social media!

Take the census. One day, this too shall pass. And when that happens, we’re going to need an accurate census count. The census dictates everything from representation in Congress to how much health care funding your state receives from the federal government.

Right now, door-to-door canvassing to encourage census participation has stalled due to public health concerns. That means it is up to each of us to make sure our family, friends, and neighbors know to fill out their census form. You can learn more about it here.

Take advantage of at-home time. Instead of focusing on all the things you can’t do, channel your energy into all the things you normally don’t have time for, like researching inspiring state candidates you might be interested in following and supporting. The DLCC is proud to support Democrats running for state legislature across the country, each with an interesting perspective on the challenges facing Americans. Take a browse around our Spotlight page.

Support small businesses and state Democrats. The DLCC online store contracts with American small businesses to produce the Dem-inspired swag you know and love. Every product is union-made right here in the United States. Consider purchasing a fun sticker or cute onesie to support our political efforts and the incredible small businesses we work with.

Home-school lesson. If you or a loved one has been deputized as a teacher for the foreseeable future, consider planning a lesson around redistricting and gerrymandering for your middle or high schoolers. A combination of geography and political science, it’s important knowledge for civil participation and an interesting example of our evolving representative system in this great experiment called the United States.

Figure out voting in your state. We don’t know how long this public health crisis is going to last, or how long we’ll have to practice social distancing. Make sure you brush up on your state’s voting laws and any changes that might be coming from the state government so that you know what your options are in terms of voting from home and avoiding large crowds. Some states have universal vote-by-mail, others early in-person voting. Figure it out now so you’re prepared when the primary or general election comes.

Sign up for alerts. Get emails from your local & state Democratic Party, as well as the state Democratic candidates running in your district! This will help you stay engaged with updates on community health and resources, as well as at-home volunteer opportunities and news of any nonsense the Republicans in your state might be trying to pull. Also, make sure you’re following your state party on Twitter!

Donate what you can. There are a lot of causes worthy of your money right now, but one of them is state Democratic candidates who are struggling to reach out to voters amid social distancing. After you give to your local food banks, service workers, and community clinics, consider giving to support local Dems. We’re fighting for the most vulnerable people in our communities today and every day.