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BainsBane

(53,074 posts)
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 09:55 PM Oct 2020

Tonight, I convinced an undecided voter to vote for Biden!

I've been making phone calls for the Biden campaign and coordinated Democratic Party campaign for months now. I'll have a number of calls in which I helped people figure out how and where to vote. A couple of young voters thought they could vote online, and I've explained how and where they actually do vote. But tonight I talked to an undecided voter whose mind I successfully changed! He is a recent immigrant. I asked him what he cared most about, and he said jobs. I told him some of Biden's policies to promote job growth and a living wage. We talked about COVID, and then I talked about how important it is to me that Biden be elected: I've been making calls for months, not because I like it, but because it's really important to me that Joe Biden be elected president. He said that my passion convinced him and he would be voting for Biden. Now that made my night, and all the other days and nights I've spent calling.

GOTV makes a difference!

62 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Tonight, I convinced an undecided voter to vote for Biden! (Original Post) BainsBane Oct 2020 OP
Yaaaaaay! SheltieLover Oct 2020 #1
That's terrific!!! Bleacher Creature Oct 2020 #2
Woot! soothsayer Oct 2020 #3
Wonderful! Virtual hugs for you! 42bambi Oct 2020 #4
Beaut. Thank you. MerryBlooms Oct 2020 #5
Good for you! StaunchDemocrat1957 Oct 2020 #62
That's awesome! Congratulations! CottonBear Oct 2020 #6
Awesome! BraKez2 Oct 2020 #7
You are bdamomma Oct 2020 #8
:) BainsBane Oct 2020 #9
Thank you! onecaliberal Oct 2020 #10
You are doing the work MoonlitKnight Oct 2020 #11
Congrats!!!!!! 💕 MLAA Oct 2020 #12
I'm afraid many undecided voters are likely to change their minds two our three times before you Nitram Oct 2020 #13
:( BainsBane Oct 2020 #15
It's a mistake to call them most of them "undecided." They're "indecisive" voters. Earthshine2 Oct 2020 #24
Astute observation. BComplex Oct 2020 #46
Good job! nt jrthin Oct 2020 #14
Interesting. PoindexterOglethorpe Oct 2020 #16
Nice! Congrats nt iluvtennis Oct 2020 #17
Turned a friend/former co- worker from Trump to Biden VicNEO Oct 2020 #18
That's amazing! BainsBane Oct 2020 #19
Mais, Mme. Defarge Oct 2020 #20
You did a good thing! Karadeniz Oct 2020 #21
how dumb do they have to be to think you can vote online ? drray23 Oct 2020 #22
That's why we make calls BainsBane Oct 2020 #23
Agree treestar Oct 2020 #26
did not there use to be civic lessons ? nt. drray23 Oct 2020 #29
Not for a very long time. nt BainsBane Oct 2020 #41
People can vote online for other things HermitageHermit Oct 2020 #47
There is realisticly NO online voting for 'regular voters' in the USA - anywhere. Tommymac Oct 2020 #55
Why is that such a weird thought? Turin_C3PO Oct 2020 #56
He can't vote if he is a recent immigrant treestar Oct 2020 #25
thats recent. drray23 Oct 2020 #28
Now that interesting. You immigrated from France to the US. GulfCoast66 Oct 2020 #48
good point Mary Mac Oct 2020 #30
He can vote if he's a citizen BainsBane Oct 2020 #31
The word recent treestar Oct 2020 #32
Of immigrant origin conveys second generation BainsBane Oct 2020 #33
Telling this story forward I'd recommend treestar Oct 2020 #34
fair point BainsBane Oct 2020 #38
Thank YOU! Mary Mac Oct 2020 #27
My problem with convincing undecided voters is being able to stop laughing at them long yaesu Oct 2020 #35
No laughing while phone banking BainsBane Oct 2020 #42
Good on you! TomSlick Oct 2020 #36
Well-done! Thank you for all your work ... after moonscape Oct 2020 #37
Thank you for your dedication. LastLiberal in PalmSprings Oct 2020 #39
Well done you!! BobTheSubgenius Oct 2020 #40
Congrats! ...but how can ANYONE be undecided at this point? C Moon Oct 2020 #43
People work BainsBane Oct 2020 #45
Good for you!! Sogo Oct 2020 #44
K&R UCmeNdc Oct 2020 #49
Way to go! And good on you for making a difference... Violet_Crumble Oct 2020 #50
Well... Mike Nelson Oct 2020 #51
Thank you! Dark n Stormy Knight Oct 2020 #52
K&R! (nt) ProfessorGAC Oct 2020 #53
K & R. Awesome! NT warmfeet Oct 2020 #54
K&R Sherman A1 Oct 2020 #57
The only two trump voters I know are NOT voting for trump this year. Neema Oct 2020 #58
That's fantastic! BainsBane Oct 2020 #60
K&R Blue Owl Oct 2020 #59
K & R denvine Oct 2020 #61

CottonBear

(21,596 posts)
6. That's awesome! Congratulations!
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 09:59 PM
Oct 2020

I’m phone banking for my senatorial candidate too! 🇺🇸🗳🇺🇸

Nitram

(22,900 posts)
13. I'm afraid many undecided voters are likely to change their minds two our three times before you
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 10:11 PM
Oct 2020

speak to them next.

 

Earthshine2

(4,044 posts)
24. It's a mistake to call them most of them "undecided." They're "indecisive" voters.
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 10:43 PM
Oct 2020

They can't make a decision on this and probably many other things in their lives.

It's not important enough to them. They don't see the connection between the vote and the potential outcome in their lives.

There is a smaller group of "undecideds" who just enjoy getting the constant attention from their friends. They stay undecided on purpose.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,906 posts)
16. Interesting.
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 10:20 PM
Oct 2020

It's genuinely scary that some voters could think they could vote online.

Clearly the basics of voting are simply not taught in school.

VicNEO

(32 posts)
18. Turned a friend/former co- worker from Trump to Biden
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 10:29 PM
Oct 2020

Staunch R. Not a fan of 45. She told me Friday both she and her husband voted B/K. First ever D vote for Pres for both of them. I know she’s voted D for judges before, cause she’s asked my atty spouse for input.
Said she held her nose to vote this year- but had to be done.

drray23

(7,638 posts)
22. how dumb do they have to be to think you can vote online ?
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 10:38 PM
Oct 2020
A couple of young voters thought they could vote online, and I've explained how and where they actually do vote


Its a good thing you were able to help them. Sometimes I wonder how some people even get out of bed.

BainsBane

(53,074 posts)
23. That's why we make calls
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 10:43 PM
Oct 2020

New voters don't always know how the process works. They can request an absentee ballot online. Voting, however, is another story.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
26. Agree
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 10:47 PM
Oct 2020

They should teach them all about it in high school. If it’s important, that is not so much to ask. Good grief!

HermitageHermit

(42 posts)
47. People can vote online for other things
Wed Oct 28, 2020, 12:43 AM
Oct 2020

If you are going to vote your shares as a stockholder in a proxy battle, that's done online

I was under the impression that some west coast jurisdictions had online voting already, no? I know here in PA we don't have it.

It isn't really outrageous that people would think that was the protocol.

Tommymac

(7,263 posts)
55. There is realisticly NO online voting for 'regular voters' in the USA - anywhere.
Wed Oct 28, 2020, 09:23 AM
Oct 2020

Just want to point this out.

A few states have been experimenting with overseas and military types for online, email or fax voting for absentees, but it is rare and still not 100% vested as safe. 99.9% of voters must vote by mail or in person.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/23/why-us-cant-vote-online-in-2020-presidential-election-trump-biden.html

Turin_C3PO

(14,083 posts)
56. Why is that such a weird thought?
Wed Oct 28, 2020, 12:08 PM
Oct 2020

So many things are done online nowadays that I can easily see a young voter wondering that. It doesn't mean they're stupid.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
25. He can't vote if he is a recent immigrant
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 10:46 PM
Oct 2020

Only if he was naturalized. That means he lived in the US at lest 5 years generally.

drray23

(7,638 posts)
28. thats recent.
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 10:52 PM
Oct 2020

ive been a us citizen for 20 years ( and lived here for 30, i was on a green card) and out in rural Virginia im still the french guy who is new around here. its pretty funny actually. when i meet somebody they ask
where are you from ( i still have a detectable french accent) and when we chat further and get to where i live, they are oh yeah its so and so farm ( which we bought from that guy who died 30 years ago..). I guess it takes at least a generation to be a local 😄

GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)
48. Now that interesting. You immigrated from France to the US.
Wed Oct 28, 2020, 12:50 AM
Oct 2020

Must be quite a story there.

I’ve been to France 5 times. They seem to love their country. Which I do as well.

Although there is a fantastic bakery in Winter Garden Florida owned by a french couple. Never thought to ask how they ended up here.

BainsBane

(53,074 posts)
31. He can vote if he's a citizen
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 11:04 PM
Oct 2020

recent immigrants can be citizens too.
I didn't interrogate him about how long he'd been in the country. He had a Vietnamese name and accent.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
32. The word recent
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 11:10 PM
Oct 2020

Just kind of stuck out there. I don’t think that is a good adjective to use for someone here long enough to have been naturalized. I’d not use that term. Maybe I’d use of immigrant origen. Recent just has an air of “just got off the boat.”

BainsBane

(53,074 posts)
33. Of immigrant origin conveys second generation
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 11:14 PM
Oct 2020

to me. But whatever. He had an accent and didn't have his mind made up about who to vote for. I have observed that some immigrants are not immersed in the cultural context of politics as many US-born Americans are.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
34. Telling this story forward I'd recommend
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 11:22 PM
Oct 2020

Avoid the term “ recent.” Righties will grab onto that to say he’s not an eligible voter.

yaesu

(8,020 posts)
35. My problem with convincing undecided voters is being able to stop laughing at them long
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 11:23 PM
Oct 2020

enough to convince them

BainsBane

(53,074 posts)
42. No laughing while phone banking
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 11:56 PM
Oct 2020

Even with Trump supporters. You have to be polite.
I did have a moment tonight with a third party voter who said "it's Nader's year."
I said, "what? Nader's year?" He then hung up on me. This was a 20 something shit stain. I don't even think Nader is running anymore.

moonscape

(4,674 posts)
37. Well-done! Thank you for all your work ... after
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 11:30 PM
Oct 2020

so many months you earned that victory on the part of the country!

BobTheSubgenius

(11,572 posts)
40. Well done you!!
Tue Oct 27, 2020, 11:45 PM
Oct 2020

I hope this success is being repeated over, and over, and over again, all over America.

Again....well done!

BainsBane

(53,074 posts)
45. People work
Wed Oct 28, 2020, 12:36 AM
Oct 2020

look after their kids, etc...They don't necessarily pay attention to politics. Immigrants in particular work very long hours, hours the rest of us never would. Many work 7 days a week just to survive. A Vietnamese immigrant isn't racist, but that doesn't mean he's followed Trump co. closely. The purpose in making calls is to help people with information about how to vote, not to be judgmental. If you only want voters who live up to your standards, you will lose every election. I am sure there are many things that man knows that you or I don't have the first clue about and never will.

Violet_Crumble

(35,977 posts)
50. Way to go! And good on you for making a difference...
Wed Oct 28, 2020, 02:49 AM
Oct 2020

I really hope the hard work and patience of you and others pays off next Tuesday. I've been following the US election campaign through DU and the New York Times (I got the cheapest ever subscription!) and really do admire the patience of Democrats who try to persuade unconvinced, independents and Republicans to vote for Joe Biden. I just don't have the patience. I watched an episode of Four Corners last week about the US election and was so frustrated at the insanely stupid people who are voting for Trump that I yelled at the telly. I just don't get it. Are they blind?

Anyway, if anyone's interested in seeing how the US election is reported on elsewhere in the world, here's a link to the Four Corners episode. The woman in the big hat made me want to scratch my eyes out and howl...

Neema

(1,151 posts)
58. The only two trump voters I know are NOT voting for trump this year.
Wed Oct 28, 2020, 12:10 PM
Oct 2020

One is not voting this year, and one already voted for Biden and is super excited about it. That's two votes trump won't be getting and one vote Biden gained!

BainsBane

(53,074 posts)
60. That's fantastic!
Wed Oct 28, 2020, 01:02 PM
Oct 2020

We hear a fair number of these conversion stories. I hope it adds up to a Biden victory.

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