So I'm supposed to be going door to door today... 😳😥

[ecstatic]

I signed up with the Georgia Democrats. As the time approaches, I'm getting more and more nervous and unsure of what I'm going to do. I don't want to stand them up but I'm kind of shy and not a salesperson. I've never gone door to door before to try to convince random people to vote. Now other worries are creeping in as well. I don't want to get shot or something crazy.

Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Edited to add: I'm stepping away to get dressed. Keeping all options open.

[LakeArenal]

1. I had the same fears for my SIL in rural WI

She said all were friendly. Nothing scary.

Remember mobs are cowards individually.

Still only you can decide what is safe for you.

[Jersey Devil]

2. They shouldn't be "random" doors you are knocking on

I've gone door to door many times as a candidate and to support other candidates. You should get a D&R list, which lists the names and party affiliations of all registered voters at an address in the voting district you will be going to. You can then knock on Dem door only or on Dem and unaffiliated doors if you choose (I never knocked on Repub doors to remind them to vote). You should also get some kind of written handout to give the voters when you knock. Just hand it to them, remind them to vote and move to the next door. Never, ever argue with them. If no one answers, just leave a piece of literature and move on.

[LisaL]

5. Very good points.

NT

[we can do it]

8. At this point, we should only be knocking D doors.

[a kennedy]

3. Take a deep breath, relax, even have a shot just to quiet the nerves.

Make sure you have a natural smile on your face when they open the door. Just say hello and say what you’d like to mention. Most people will be pleasant enough, and how fun when you find a like minded Democrat. AND THANKS FOR WHAT YOU’RE ABOUT TO DO.

[skylucy]

4. Great advise from Jersey Devil! You definitely should only be knocking on the doors of Democrats.

Good for you for signing up to knock on doors! If you do it, be sure to post on DU after to tell us about your experience. Hope you can fight off the shyness. You can always show up and try it. If you don't like how its going, you can stop...but I'll bet you will enjoy talking with other Dems! You might even be "ecstatic" afterwards!!

[liberal_mama]

6. Someone knocked on my door the other day about a political candidate with no mask on!

Naturally, I couldn't open my door to talk to him. I yelled through the window that I'm immune compromised. Wear a mask in case you are knocking on doors of people who are immune compromised or high risk.

My nephew doesn't do canvassing anymore because of the pandemic, but he's always been very politically active and used to go door to door all the time. He told me that he had a few hostile people, but most of them were nice.

[we can do it]

7. Be friendly and enthusiastic. Ask for their vote.

Give them info they request.

[iemanja]

9. At this point it's about voter turnout, not persuasion

If you encounter a Republican, be polite and move on.

[jalan48]

10. It won't take long foreverything to be normal.

[ecstatic]

11. Thanks to everyone that responded. I did it!

Writing the OP itself was enough for me to regain my resolve and move forward with the plan.

We used an app called minivan to get the list of households. We only visited homes that either leaned democratic, were strongly democratic, or homes where we had no data on which side they leaned. In the communities we canvassed in, there were a ton of democratic signs on the lawns, even on some windows, but only 3 households opened the door.

It was an interesting experience but I think I'll stick with phone banking going forward. Lol

[Meowmee]

12. I am glad it wasn't too bad

I would never do that due to the Covid… I probably would not do it anyway because when I did phone calls I had some nasty people and it was just a waste of time in my opinion. I hope what you did helps

The list of phone numbers I was given we’re definitely not all Democrats which was very weird in fact many seem to be r or I.

I don’t open the door to anyone I don’t know anymore and I have a sign saying all solicitation is for bidden etc. it’s amazing I hardly ever have anybody knock on the door anymore it’s usually only people who are delivering something if it needs a signature or whatever.

And there is no need for any Dems to knock on our door- we always vote straight dem ticket and always have and I would never do anything else. Sometimes in the past naral people come and ask me for a $200 donation lol. Which I never give them, I never give them anything and I told the last one because you don’t support nuclear power I would never support you and you have no alternative.

[ecstatic]

14. Lol. Yeah, it seems like we have to come up with

new ways to reach out because I know I no longer open the door for strangers either. Honestly, I think texting can be effective if it's not overdone. Keep it short and sweet like: NAME, do you need information on how to vote on Tuesday? Or just give the details directly without even asking for approval.

[Meowmee]

18. Yeah

Texting is a good idea 😀

[LisaL]

13. Did you convince those 3 to go out and vote?

[ecstatic]

15. Lol. I think 2 of the 3 answered the door by accident

because we arrived at the same time as Amazon and other visitors. One guy who opened said the woman who we were there to see no longer lived there but that he had already voted.

The second guy said that the two women we were there to see were not home (that was a weird and awkward situation because we're pretty sure the two ladies were in a car in the driveway but they denied that they were the voters we were there to see).

The last guy probably could have ignored us but he was clearly a strong Democrat and wanted to be a little respectful. He answered the door and told us he had voted the previous day. We were warned ahead of time that people who voted on Friday probably wouldn't be updated in the system.

[Demsrule86]

16. Don't go to any houses with confederate flags! I actually canvassed in GA when I lived there.

It was wild back then. Most people are nice though and this year has been very nice.

[ecstatic]

17. Oh heck no! Anyone bold enough to hang a confederate flag in

Dekalb County Is likely psychotic and armed to the teeth. But I do sometimes see homes with US flags? Even though I think Democrats are more patriotic than repubs, I assume only republicans hang flags like that. They're all about props and empty gestures.