Trick or Vote
Studies show that the single most effective way to increase voter turnout - among young people and all other people - is to knock on doors and simply ask 'em to vote. What's the one day every year when people expect someone to come to their door? HALLOWEEN - October 31. With election day set on the first Tuesday after November 1, Halloween always falls just days before the day that ballots are due.
Riffing on Jesse's piece on the Lane Bus Project's Trick or Vote, I'm here to tell you about the Portland Trick or Vote.
Let's gather progressive organizations and volunteers, get decked out in Halloween costumes, and go door-to-door to promote democracy and increase the vote. We might be too old to trick-or-treat, but we are never too old to TRICK-OR-VOTE! This is a fun, family-friendly way to get politically involved, do your civic duty, and help others do theirs.
Also, if you come out and canvass for a few hours, you get into the post-party for free. It'll be at the Crystal Ballroom and will feature top local bands such as The March Fourth Marching Band, Thomas Lauderdale and China of Pink Martini, QuiVaH and more.
Details:
When: October 29th, 2-6:30pm; Party starts at 8:00pm
Where: Staging at the Crystal Ballroom and deploying around the city
Why: To Get Out the Vote!
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October 23, 2006 |
Cody Hoesly | Comments (69 so far)
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Comments
Posted by: spicey | Oct 23, 2006 11:20:49 AM
anyone know if this is happening in Brading's turf? I'd like to send some Gresham friends out to do this. Thanks.
Spicey
Posted by: Scott Beutel | Oct 23, 2006 12:08:22 PM
Hello Spicey and anyone else wondering about Turf,
We are going to be doing turf in close in Portland including apartments in Downtown and NW and more traditional neighboorhood turf in inner SE and NE. Our focus is on areas that are the most youth dense and these are the areas with lots of young people. We would love to have people from all areas at this event so please come even if it is not in your immediate neighborhood.
18-30 year olds vote at the lowest rate of any age group so we need target these folks agressively. This is a group that has not used its collective political voice in the past and needs some active encouragement. Building Votes, the Bus Projects non-partisan youth voter registration program just finished registering over 16,000 young voters and Trick or Vote is a big part in our effort to make sure these folks cast ballots. This is a great chance to be politically effective and have fun at the same time! GOTV in a superhero costume is just more fun.
Thanks for the interest,
Scott Beutel
Trick or Vote Co-Organizer
Oregon Bus Project
Sign-Up to Trick or Vote at trickorvote.com
Posted by: Jon | Oct 23, 2006 12:55:19 PM
Yeesh...one more reason not to answer the door on Halloween.
Posted by: Jonthegrump | Oct 23, 2006 1:02:45 PM
Jon - Why so grumpy?
Posted by: trust me | Oct 23, 2006 2:26:17 PM
Trust me, knocking on doors of young people and telling them to vote, especially to vote your way, isnt going to help. If anything it will hurt. If they werent going to vote before having some hard core liberal knock on their door isnt going to help any.
Posted by: whatareyoutalkingabout | Oct 23, 2006 2:35:15 PM
Trust Me,
You sound pretty darn informed. Got some statistics?
It's called gotv and it works - people wouldn't do it if it didn't.
Posted by: Eric | Oct 23, 2006 2:36:31 PM
Fine..I will post "no solisitors" and "no canvassers" signs on my door because I would rather have a nice calm dinner than be standing at my door having a canvasser in my face justifying thier existance.
Posted by: JerryS | Oct 23, 2006 2:38:12 PM
Yeah, better to stay home and sit on your ass and eat candy and not give a crap about the future. Good call trust me.
Posted by: For Trust Me | Oct 23, 2006 2:39:51 PM
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/96/19/10939.pdf
Posted by: eric | Oct 23, 2006 2:40:41 PM
Don't be so uptight there Jerry...besides, I have alreday sent in my ballot and I am allergic to chocolate. I feast on healthy foods.
Posted by: trust me | Oct 23, 2006 2:42:06 PM
No I have no stats. But I know that having you on my doorstep while im trying to study, watch tv, or anything else more important than listening to some self rightous person tell me how to vote isnt going to work in my case and I am your average college student who does vote. Its called annoying and when people annoy you you are not to likely to listen to them, or vote how they want you too.
Posted by: JerryS | Oct 23, 2006 2:44:15 PM
Justifying their existance? Hmm. You seem pretty angry about young people trying to make a difference in their community.
Why in the world would a young person reminding you to vote have a negative impact on your day?
Posted by: whatareyoutalkingabout | Oct 23, 2006 2:46:39 PM
And there you have it folks! The very reason this state needs groups like the Bus Project!
By the way, the canvassers on the 29th will simply be reminding people TO vote, not how to vote.
Posted by: Eric | Oct 23, 2006 2:48:00 PM
Because I actually have a right to be left alone to my own devises Jerry, and there is no law that says otherwise.
And I am not angry...just stating a fact. Anger is for the weak.
Posted by: Jessica | Oct 23, 2006 2:48:41 PM
Oh dear, I hope you're not the average college student!
And quite frankly, I really doubt that you are, I think you're just mad at the world.
Posted by: trust me | Oct 23, 2006 2:49:59 PM
No, the original post said to get "young people" to vote. This means you would be contacting young people. Having a young person trying to make a difference (not really, your trying to influence people to vote your way) isnt going to upset me. What will upset me is anyone on my doorstep telling me to vote or how to vote. I get enough of it at school, on TV and just walking down the street. Your just an added annoyance.
Posted by: Eric | Oct 23, 2006 2:51:22 PM
Well, those canvassers are in for a rude awakening when they get to my apartment complex, because the property owner will tell them to 'bug off' and leave the tenents alone and in peace according to Oregon law and The property owner's lawyer, who will be on site to remind them as such.
Posted by: JerryS | Oct 23, 2006 2:52:25 PM
Ever heard of not answering the door?
My 15 year old son and his friends are very excited about this event, simply because they themselves are not old enough to vote yet. They see this as a way to remind us older folks that it's election season.
I still don't get why it makes you so angry and how anyone in their right mind could possibly be opposed to this. It's a great idea.
Kudos to the Oregon Bus Project!
Posted by: Jake | Oct 23, 2006 2:53:18 PM
"listening to some self rightous person tell me how to vote isnt going to work in my case" - Trust Me
You have the point of this volunteer day mixed up Mr. "Trust Me". No one is going to be telling you or anyone HOW to vote. During Trick or Vote on Oct. 29, volunteers will be reminding young people (from all political parties) who have not yet voted to turn in their ballots and we'll be letting them know where they can drop off their ballot.
I've done this before and people we're very happy to have the reminder and wanted to talk even after I had finished my short pitch!
I'll be there this Sunday to help out! See you all there!
Posted by: whatareyoutalkingabout | Oct 23, 2006 2:58:05 PM
Um, "trust me?" Did you read my post AT ALL?
IT SAID THE CANVASSERS WILL NOT BE INFLUENCING PEOPLE HOW TO VOTE BUT WILL SIMPLY REMIND THEM TO VOTE. WHETHER THOSE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE DOOR TURN OUT TO BE YOUNG OR NOT, THEY WILL BE REMINDING THEM TO VOTE. THE FOCUS IS ON YOUNG PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY TEND TO LIVE CLOSER TO DOWNTOWN, WHERE THE CANVASSERS WILL BE.
Posted by: Sarah | Oct 23, 2006 3:00:45 PM
I'm gonna go ahead and call "Eric" a troll.
So...another troll another donation!
Posted by: trust me | Oct 23, 2006 3:02:48 PM
I dont trust you to not push your own political agenda, or any of your volunteers. It is human nature to get others to do things you would like. I hope you do get people to vote. However, I dont think you will. It is annoying for anyone to knock on your door you dont know, regardless of the issue or motives. Just my opinion.
Posted by: Eric | Oct 23, 2006 3:04:54 PM
Thats interesting...Just because I am stating my right to be left alone you assume I am angry. I am not angry, but you guys sound more uptight than an army colonel.
Posted by: Larry | Oct 23, 2006 3:09:09 PM
Hahaha! The "property lawyer's owner?" He or she will be on site to make sure those pesky kids don't bother the tenants by reminding them to turn in their ballots!
Now THAT'S rich!
I'm sure that lawyer wouldn't mind giving up a Sunday to shoo away volunteers who are trying to make a difference in their community.
Man you've got some issues.
Posted by: K | Oct 23, 2006 3:10:50 PM
That's hilarious. The lawyer should hold a sign that says "I hate democray."
Posted by: Chris | Oct 23, 2006 3:14:19 PM
Yes!
Maybe they can just hang a banner that says "We hate democracy" or "go away, nobody who cares about their community is allowed within 10 feet of this apartment complex."
I can just picture the poor lawyer out there with his sign.
Posted by: trust me | Oct 23, 2006 3:14:33 PM
Aren't you the same people who say we should get rid of the petition process in Oregon because you dont like who gets things on the ballots and also because your annoyed with how many petitioners are out gathering signatures and coming to your doors? So, don't you also hate democracy? Or, is it that you only hate people who dont agree and vote like you?
Posted by: Larry | Oct 23, 2006 3:18:21 PM
"The same people?"
What people, exactly?
Trick or Vote is being sponsored by The Oregon Bus Project - a nonprofit that strives to mobilize voters and to engage young people in the political process. For some reason, they thought that young people didn't care enough about it.
Oh wait! You're illustrated the need perfectly here. Thank you for that.
Hopefully your posts will motivate people.
Posted by: trust me | Oct 23, 2006 3:20:57 PM
Liberals are the people I am refering to.
And, you didn't illustrate anything. I already voted. Your pesky attempts to annoy me won't do much but waste your own time. Actually please come to my door so I can distract you with deep conversation so you dont annoy any of my other neighboors.
Posted by: Larry | Oct 23, 2006 3:25:06 PM
You illustrate perfectly the problem: You would be very upset if someone interrupted your tv watching by reminding you to vote.
I'm not trying to annoy you at all. You really have not answered the question of why people being engaged in their community bothers you.
Why? Why does that bother you?
Posted by: trust me | Oct 23, 2006 3:32:02 PM
A reminder to vote? If people forget to vote maybe they shouldn't be voting in the first place. They dont seem that responsible to me.
Posted by: Scott Beutel | Oct 23, 2006 3:35:58 PM
Democracy is hard, Trick or Vote is finding a constructive way to break out of our apathetic shells. In 2004 we knocked on 30,000 doors in one afternoon. We talked to a handful of folks who were annoyed but we spoke with thousands of people who were stoked that we stopped by.
If you look at the work of multiple political scientists and others, face to face voter contact is the BEST way to get people to vote. Green and Gerber, and Nickerson have published informative works on voting behavior among young people. Please show us results to the contrary if you can produce them. Face to face contact works better then any other method, TV, phone, radio, etc. Does it work with every person? No, the Trolls have pointed this out, but it is much more effective then anything else.
Halloween is the one time of the year when people expect folks to come knocking so lets combine these two elements. The best way, paired with the best time of year! Effective and fun. We need a public interest holiday, it is time to take over Halloween!
Trick or Vote is non-partisan. Those who say we are pushing an agenda are correct; the agenda is encouraging democratic participation! I know this is a radical notion to some but have a little faith in the democratic process. I think people forget that there are people in the world who actually want to increase participation as a social value. This is not about political gain, we need to live in a country where more then half of the population participates.
If you want to be left alone then unplug the phone, get off the internet and turn off the TV, its fine to live in the dark. Take 30 seconds to consider working to live in a better world rather then blogging about what makes you annoyed. I'd rather bust out the superman costume and chase through the streets helping to make sure that people vote.
Sign up to help at http://www.trickorvote.com/events.html. It time to walk for democracy and then party into the night with great bands including March Fouth, QuiVah, Strength, Thomas and China of Pink Martini, Pilar French and Bark, Hide, and Horn.
See you all Sunday!
Scott
ToV Co-Organizer
Oregon Bus Project
Posted by: Eric | Oct 23, 2006 3:36:05 PM
What you call 'involvement in the community' I call 'being a busy-body imposing your will on my right to make my own dicision'. 'reminding' me is just a pretentious act to alleviate boredom. Sheesh...you guys are just too uptight.
Posted by: Carrie | Oct 23, 2006 3:37:20 PM
I for one am so excited for Trick or vote this year. My friends and I had a blast two years ago. The best part was the after party.
Trust me, I have read through your posts and it seems like you could use a little fun too. Why not come out to trick or vote and see for yourself what it's all about?
Posted by: Kevin | Oct 23, 2006 3:37:51 PM
I can certainly vouch for the effectiveness of knocking on doors. It won't necessarily alter not-button issue voting. But for some of the more minor candidate races it can definitely make a positive difference.
In 2002 I had a nice lady knock on my door and ask me to vote for her. She was running for Forest Grove City Council and was the first candidate to ever knock on my door. FG gives you a list of a bunch of folks and you have to pick like 5 out of the list and those are who you vote for. Normally I don't vote for candidates that I don't know anything about and usually I don't care about small town city councils. But that year I voted for one person - the lady who knocked on my door. Mostly because I genuinely appreciated her effort and willingness to ask me for my vote.
Posted by: trust me | Oct 23, 2006 3:39:09 PM
Ill be there and I will urge everyone to cut taxes and vote for Republicans. See you there everybody.
Posted by: Patricia | Oct 23, 2006 3:42:07 PM
Another troll! Another donation!
Thanks Eric!
It's funny that you keep saying the people here are uptight. You're the goof who's afraid of some kids stopping by your apartment to remind your neighbors to vote. Spooky!
Well, you seem like you could use a beer or something.
Posted by: trust me | Oct 23, 2006 3:44:24 PM
Now your trying to influence us with alcohol? Have you no scruples?
Posted by: rafael baptista | Oct 23, 2006 3:45:55 PM
Trust me,
I did trick or vote two years ago and it works. I am a high school student and somewhen siad that they hear "please vote" in school all the time. At my school which has 2700 kids you never hear that. Plus if you didnt know oregon has a system which I believe the bus uses that once the state gets your ballot it goes on the computer system as you have voted and the program to cut turf that the bus project uses gets the list and its updated mulitple times a day. So its very likely that the Bus will only talk to people who havent voted yet. Plus I did GOTV yesterday and people were so exicted to have someone reminding people to vote even the people who always vote.
Exicted for Trick or Vote
Rafael Baptista
Posted by: trust me | Oct 23, 2006 3:47:23 PM
No, if I can come out and get people to vote republican and to cut taxes I will be there. Anything to ruin a liberals day. Besides, if you guys won all the issues and offices you wanted and the government still sucked you wouldn't have anyone to blame anymore. And where is the fun in that?
Posted by: Jeremy | Oct 23, 2006 3:52:59 PM
"Trust me, knocking on doors of young people and telling them to vote, especially to vote your way, isnt going to help. If anything it will hurt."
...haha! But you said yourself it wouldn't work!
Posted by: Calvin | Oct 23, 2006 3:55:22 PM
Another troll! Another donation!
My donation is going to the no on 43 campaign. Thanks "Trust Me!"
Posted by: trust me | Oct 23, 2006 3:57:42 PM
That’s why I will be an ass and tell them to vote demo for stupid reasons. They will be annoyed and vote the opposite way just to upset me. But, in reality they will be voting the way I want them to unwittingly. It’s called reverse psychology Jeremy.
Posted by: trust me | Oct 23, 2006 3:59:20 PM
Calvin waste your money if you want, better to spend it on advertising against something than to use it to help the poor or fund schools. Oh wait, thats the liberal way, spend money on nothing than beg for more. Way to keep up the tradition Cal.
Posted by: Calvin | Oct 23, 2006 4:03:31 PM
Trust me, I don't think I understood your comment but I think it's because you didn't spell corrrectly.
Try it again?
Yes, yes. It's those pesky progressives that never help the poor. Nor do they want to fund schools.
So you're going to "be an ass?" That'll be a stretch.
Posted by: Jimmy | Oct 23, 2006 4:04:36 PM
Another troll!!!!!!!!
Another donation!!!!!!!!!
Mine's goin' to Ted.
Posted by: Amanda | Oct 23, 2006 4:07:45 PM
Thanks for doing this! A way to do something positive this Halloween, great idea.
We (my sister and I) can't wait!
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Posted by: James J | Oct 23, 2006 10:55:08 AM
Thanks, Cody and all Bus Project folks who are working so diligently for positive change for the future of Oregon.
For more information on why everyone should vote, especially: progressives, Dems, Enviros, civil/human rights advocates & Moderate Rs and Ls, See my post at:
http://blog.onwardoregon.org/
GOTV !
James Jacobson
Eugene activist