Canvassing for Elizabeth Guzman and the Democratic Ticket Near Manassas: Some Observations and Tips

by Michael Beer

I canvassed today in Bristow for Democrat Elizabeth Guzman, running for Delegate in the 22nd district. A friend and I took on a list of 84 homes.  If you are reading this, I hope you will consider doing some door knocking yourself, as talking to people about the election is effective and important.

For those who have not door knocked in a while, here is generally what happens.

1. You go to a campaign office (possibly after signing up for Mobilize.us). Bring a hat, sunscreen, water, a sharpie, and some friends.
2. You will get a list number that you will input into MiniVAN, a door knocking app you need to download onto your phone. Grab a snack and a candidate button or sticker to wear.
3. Go to the community, park in the middle and start knocking. You can go by the map on the app or just let the app tell you which door to go to. Look at the name(s). Look at the details tab such as SD (strong Dem)  or LR (Lean Repub). Look at the history tab to see if and how they have been previously contacted. Sometimes there are notes that are interesting left by a previous canvasser.
4. As you wait for the folks to answer the door, write with a sharpie, “Dear______, sorry to miss you!.” If they answer the door, don’t give them that handout, but a blank one. Follow the script that is provided in MiniVAN. Or improvise as you will. The best thing is to get them talking. Ask them questions. This unconsciously communicates that their voice is important.
5. Ask them their plan for voting. Try to get them to vote early. Try to get plans for the whole household. (One advantage of voting early is that the voters are taken off these door knocking lists and won’t be bothered again).
6. If they are not home, fill in the name on your handout that you had prepared earlier waiting for a door response. For example, “Dear Susan, Sorry to miss you!” If you want to add something else like “please vote” that is up to you, if you have the time. NEVER put in a mailbox, but a mail slot in the door is legal.
7. Mark if they have “moved,” or “refused.” Don’t mark “not home; instead, mark “Lit Dropped.” You’ll see the house change color to black on the MiniVAN map.
8. You will see signs that say “no soliciting of any kind.” However, political solicitation is always legal.  What I sometimes do is change my script by saying, “Hello, my name is Michael, this is a courtesy call to remind you that the election for governor and other seats has started. Are you supporting Abigail Spanberger and Democrats including Delegate xxxxx?” It is hard to accuse us of soliciting if we are giving people a friendly reminder.
9. Doing it with someone is fun. You can follow the progress of your friend as you see which homes turn black or another color to show they have been completed. (these apps sync every minute or two).
10. You don’t have to finish the route. The unvisited houses will just be given to the next person.
11. Rarely do I experience anything hostile. We are generally not knocking on Republicans’ doors, because we are not trying to get them out to vote. Enjoy the incredible diversity of age, race, ethnicity, class, occupation, etc! It is good form to compliment them on their yards or their Halloween decorations!

What did I see on Saturday? Many voters were not really informed that there was an election or that it was for governor or knew about the election’s importance. 80% were not home on a beautiful Saturday. 10% were home and didn’t want to answer the door.  Everyone, including a Republican, was kind and respectful.

The Latinos I spoke with largely knew of Del. Guzman. One stated that she had not voted in the presidential election last year, because she was not sure…but is motivated to vote and support Democrats now. A Mongolian-American had just moved in a few weeks before, and I assured him that he could register on election day if necessary. Most folks don’t really know much about Spanberger, but have seen some commercials.  I talked to a person from the Dominican Republic who was sympathetic to the anti-undocumented-immigrant concerns expressed by Republicans because of her experience with Haitians. But she thought Trump is cruel and wanted to send a message. An African-American woman was incredulous that MAGA people could be so cruel and unkind. She didn’t expressly invoke Jesus or God, but it was clear that her compassionate values were her guidestar. Like so many African-Americans, when they say the whole household is voting, you can be sure that that is the case. I talked to a Nepalese American who expressed support for the attack on corrupt democracy in Nepal and wants corrupt electeds like Republicans to be ousted. One person asked ”is this a ‘big’ election?” I said yes, it is a vote for Governor! They seemed suitably impressed.

I could tell that this neighborhood of townhomes clearly was under a homeowners association. Why could I tell? Because there were no political signs in yards or windows. Interestingly almost no one uses bumper stickers. (Handing out bumper stickers in townhome and HOA communities is a winner).

Bottom line. This is going to be a hard-fought election. Remember, the electorate is getting older. Immigration and crime are still uppermost in the minds of many. Get out of your comfort zone and get out there. Don’t have regrets on Nov 5^th that you did not do everything that you could.  Build the Blue Wave.