How do we get people to turn out in November?

[TDale313]

Serious question, cause based on Primary numbers the Repubs seem far more energized than our side does, and that's a real problem. I don't think the DNC has been doing a great job- but in practical terms how do we get people to the polls? We can't afford a Trump presidency.

[peacebird]

1. Depends. If we run Hillary the numbers will be abysmal.

[TDale313]

2. I support Bernie, but it'll be fighting a headwind either way.

Hopefully Trump does self destruct at some point, but he's firing people up right now.

[Maru Kitteh]

49. I support Hillary, but I will fight like hell for the Bern

If he is the nominee! I do happen to genuinely love them both.



And in the end I really do believe LOVE always wins over hate. Sometimes it takes a while, but love wins. We will win because the people who really love this country, love all our people and love each other will turn out to vote.

[bvf]

3. And that's what they're hoping for.

The Republican Party will be just fine with a Clinton in the White House, I'm sure.

[EL34x4]

38. Establishment Republicans prefer Clinton to Trump.

They're scared shitless right now. It's a white-knuckled panic.

[bvf]

65. Well, either way, they'll get their war.

And while everyone's "supporting the troops," we can watch as the middle class continues to fade away.

[RichGirl]

68. That's how we got 8 years of Bush....

....Gore was just not good enough for so many Democrats. Including Michael Moore and Bill Maher who encouraged their fans to vote Nader. How many American soldiers and innocent Iraqi lives did were lost????

Vote with your brain...not your ego.

[GummyBearz]

4. I don't know about anyone else, but my wife and I will show up for a candidate we believe in

If its just another status quo pusher, we will buy wine and stay home watching to see who everyone else wants to push the status quo

[CentralMass]

5. +1

[TDale313]

6. Yeah, I get that.

And I'm in a safely blue state so I have the luxury of not voting for the lote. OTOH, Trump is truly frightening to me and I do not want him anywhere near the White House.

[cpwm17]

12. Perhaps you should at least vote on other important issues.

[GummyBearz]

13. If there is a state proposition up for vote that I feel strongly about I will

Still wouldn't vote for someone who I don't believe in though

[cpwm17]

24. I may also have to leave that part blank.

A corrupt neocon and a birther troll are certainly very bad choices.

[hifiguy]

30. Staying home is not an option.

There are many good, decent REAL Democrats down ticket who will get my vote. But not That Horrible Woman.

[tblue37]

46. We also need votes for the downticket races. Dems and liberals always

forget how important the downticket is.

[Retrograde]

14. "We will stay home"

So the House seats that will be up for a vote in November aren't important to you? Or any state or local races? That's how the GOP solidified its grasp, and those IMHO are more important in the long run than the presidential race.

[GummyBearz]

17. A statement can be made by not showing up

And sometimes you have burn everything to the ground in order to rebuild

[RussBLib]

60. but people have not been showing up in droves already

and where has it gotten us? Election after election, vast numbers of voters don't bother already.

Every Democrat has to come out to vote.

If you cannot check the box for Hillary (or Bernie), at least vote on all the other candidates and issues that will also be on the ballot.

You don't have to cast a vote in every race.

[Retrograde]

64. Thank you! All Politics ARE local

The people we vote in for state senates and assemblies are the ones who determine the voting regulations: they have enormous power, since they can -and do - influence who gets to vote. In most states, they're the people who do the districting, which is why states like Ohio with Democratic majorities are controlled by Republcans. And the GOP knows that, and manages to mobilize their base to go out and vote, no matter how "small" the election.

I don't care much for either Clinton or Sanders as a candidate, but there is no way I'm going to sit out November. I'll most likely vote for the Democratic candidate for president - and for senator, congressperson, and state assembly. It's just too important not to: I've seen assembly races in my district decided by a couple of hundred votes.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Hmm since you are local

there might be a 15 dollar initiative on the ballot in Nov. Please do show up for that. The signature gatherers are out there still. I think it has a chance to qualify.

[GummyBearz]

22. That would be something worth showing up for

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. In June the local one is on the ballot.

It does not go as far, but it matters.

[fredamae]

7. The DNC has a Problem and seems in Denial

People feel hopeless against a rigged system. The DNC does not appear to care. But then..ONLY 900 Plus Dem Seats have been lost, so far. DWS isn't finished, apparently.
Regardless the Dem victor yesterday-the Bigger issue is that barely over 12% of Dems turned out in SC and Numbers way Down in IA/NV/NH.....what Is the Dem Leadership doing to counter this trend? November Isn't That far away.

[Hortensis]

8. Contact your local Democratic Party office and

work on getting people out. We've driven people to the polls some years, but are just saying no to driving mostly elderly conservatives from our area this time. Being a registered Democrat for 60 years does not mean you will vote Democrat. It tends to come out in all that cheerful, fun chat en route. Nice memories, but I'd prefer they stay home in 2016.

[Bluenorthwest]

66. What a terrible attitude that is. We have election systems that encourage all voters to vote, no

polling places, no need to transport persons here and there. Ease of access, no ID to show, no lines, many days in which to mark that ballot.

This thread is about getting the voters to vote, your post is about suppressing the vote. I oppose your post. Entirely. I have zero need to suppress anyone's vote. I am not a Republican.

[Bucky]

9. I think the best hope is a conservative 3rd party challenge

after Trump's nominated and the real mud starts to fly, someone from the Cruz/Santorum/Carson wing of their party may jump into the race. I could see The Donald polling as little as 35% of the popular vote and Clinton getting elected with just 45% of the electorate.

[jeff47]

52. Not gonna happen.

The crazy would kill any Republicans that supported that challenge in the next primary. And without institutional support, that challenge will not have a big enough effect.

[edgineered]

10. With the DNC's tacit approval of all things R,

maybe they are thinking that a Clinton-Romney ticket would pick up that extra 47%.

[Brother Buzz]

11. Get a hot button wedge issue on your local/state ballot

Nothing energizes voters like a good juicy wedge issue, something Republicans have known for decades.

[KentuckyWoman]

15. Actually pass laws that help working people?

If you want people to follow you give them a reason. Yapping and GOTV every 4 years doesn't mean dog slobber when people just keep getting worse and worse off despite all the promises from the last election.

[TDale313]

16. You're not wrong.

You have to actually give people something to vote for.

[oberliner]

19. MTV's Rock The Vote is the way to go

Pretty sure that is still a thing.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

25. MTV is still around? Who knew? nt

[okaawhatever]

20. For one, stop pretending like Clinton or any other Dem is the "same as" a Republican candidate.

It is laughable when people compare Clinton to Republicans. (Some of which comes from GOP trolls). Don't kid yourself, the Republicans will be pushing the message that Clinton is part of the "rigged" system, establishment, etc. all in an effort to get Dems to stay home.

Educate yourself on the issues so that you can explain the differences in policy and platforms. If you can't see a mile of difference between the Obama presidency and the Bush presidency you are in denial. The facts are clear and unequivocal. Don't help elect a Republican by passing on their message.

If Sanders gets the nomination their attacks will probably be of the "he's a socialist/communist" variety, but they're keeping their mouths shut for now hoping he wins. They think he's easier to beat in the general. If Bernie wins the nom we'll figure out how to counter attack their message about him.

I am volunteering, donating and voting for whoever the nominee is. I don't agree with the sanctimonious bull about only voting if a candidate "earns my vote" or "inspires me to vote" or "it's all the same". Refusing to vote if my preferred candidate isn't nominated doesn't make me self-righteous or idealistic. It makes me a Republican supporter.

[hifiguy]

27. HRH is a mushily pro-choice Republican

A devotee of plutocratic Reaganomics and an imperialistic, war-crazy neocon foreign policy.

Case closed.

[okaawhatever]

39. You didn't make a case. You issued petty insults. If you're going to make a case, then by all

means prove how Hillary has shown her devotion to plutocratic Reaganomics. War-crazy is a joke and she isn't a neocon. But I'm all ears if you want to issue proof of your claims.

[hifiguy]

41. Look at her record and her buddy-buddy relationship with

War Criminal Henry Kissinger. It all speaks for itself.

[jeff47]

55. That's a lot of words to ignore the problem.

We've had 4 states vote so far. In all 4 of them, Democratic turnout has been bad.

You can be as educated and pro-Democrat as you'd like. That doesn't get anyone else to the polls.

[donna123]

21. Fear?

That's what's driving me. Seeing what the GOP is putting up scares me to death.

[hifiguy]

26. Not by nominating HRH.

That's for damn sure.

[Skittles]

61. WE GET IT, YOU HATE HILLARY!!!!

ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!

[elana i am]

28. no idea

i'm in brownbackistan, and it's all trump all the time in my small world (with a side of sanders - me and my mom). most of my acquaintances are die hard repugs, and not ashamed to say it. clinton is universally loathed. and i imagine if i pressed the issue with them i would find sanders is too.

[TBF]

29. Practical terms: run someone who gives a damn about people.

If people think their vote doesn't matter they are not going to bother.

[ripcord]

44. I would settle for someone who excites the people

[TBF]

45. Donald Trump excites people -

and yet he is really a bad idea. I think we're gonna have to raise the bar a little higher than that.

[ripcord]

48. Barak Obama excited the people

And Democrat voter registrations went through the roof. People aren't excited about HRC and too few are excited about Bernie and it could cost us. Is the talent pool really that shallow or did the DNC just decide it was Hillary's turn?

[TBF]

50. Hillary's turn and/or they thought

Julian Castro was too young. That's my guess.

[tularetom]

31. I will turn out to vote in congressional, senatorrial, local races, ballot measures

And I no longer care which party a candidate represents. I've been voting for Democrat party candidates for 50 years simply because they were Democrats, that will no longer matter. I will vote for the candidate who in my opinion, will do the most for me, regardless of party affiliation. I'm too old to worry about anybody else. They can look out for themselves.

There are 300 million people in this country. If the best we can do as a choice for president is either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, we have truly reached the bottom of the barrel.

[hifiguy]

42. And scraped through it into the muck below.

A corrupt neoliberal neocon bootlicker of the banks and the MIC or a borderline fascist. Fuck the system in the ear with a red-hot poker.

[spanone]

32. if we don't we'll live in trumpalooza

[davidn3600]

33. Too much identity politics and not enough ideas

And the primary that had few contenders and debates doesn't help.

The GOP has unlimited airtime. Trump is even dominating MSNBC. They can't stop talking about him since June. Meanwhile, Hillary hides from the media on the tarmac, and the DNC rigs the system in her favor.

And you want us to be excited about her?

[shanti]

34. Recreational cannabis

is on the ballot here in california. hopefully, that at least will bring voters out!

[jeff47]

56. Not really worried about the R's carrying CA.

OH, CO, FL, VA, and PA on the other hand....

[cherokeeprogressive]

35. By nominating a candidate that actually inspires and excites people...

For reasons other than gender.

[craigmatic]

36. Hillary has to do more for the base of black voters than just go to church and dance. She has to

push some kind of policy to benefit black people. She has to adopt Sander's ideas about free college to get the young people. We need to soak the rich. She needs to campaign in places not usually gone to by democrats.

[jeff47]

57. Not gonna work. She's reversed herself too many times.

Her "trust" numbers are abysmal. So no one will believe her sudden reversal. And there's no way to fix those trust numbers quickly.

[kentuck]

37. Hang pictures of Donald Trump on their doors.

That should get their attention.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

40. We need to solve both of these issues. Turnout and this

2008 Illinois Presidential votes cast: 5.4 million
2008 Illinois US Senate votes cast: 5.1 million (we didn't have a senate race in 2012)
difference: -300,000, -5.6%

My guess is, fewer people vote at the congressional level, and so on.

[blogslut]

43. My hope is that

...there are many Democratic voters who are content with either Clinton or Sanders as their candidate and therefore are not showing up at the polls for the primary.

[Warren DeMontague]

47. I suggest looking at the states where Democrats did well in recent otherwise bad off year elections

And then asking ourselves why that is from a policy perspective.

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/08/20/democratic-party-supports-marijuana-legalization-gmo-labeling/14359551/

[napi21]

51. The only idea I have is for all of us to push, push, and push some more about SCOTUS!

If we enumerate the horrible decisions that were made during Scalia's tenure, and keep repeating "If we don't elect a Democratic President, we'll have to live with horrible decisions like those fore another 30 to 40 YEARS! That takes away the like or dislike of either candidate and gets people to concentrate completely on how they want to shape their future.


I don't know if it will work or not, but I've been thinking about how to do this for YEARS...long before Obama was running, and it's the best I can come up with. I don't feel too guilty though because every politician, advisor, and strong Party activists has agonized over this issue for eons and haven't solved it very well either.

[EdwardBernays]

53. Done nominate

One of the least trusted people in politics?

[Buzz Clik]

54. Maybe if we quit insulting them endlessly. That's a starting place.

[Depaysement]

58. #NominateBernie nt

[Metric System]

59. The comments in this thread are ridiculous considering more people are voting for Hillary than

Bernie. If he can't beat her in the primary, why would he do better than her in the general?

[tabasco]

62. I'm starting to believe it will take apathetically giving full control to republicans,

and a full-blown socio-economic meltdown like the Great Depression.

After the Democrats regain control to clean up the mess, something must be done about right-wing/plutocrat control of the mass media.

[basselope]

63. You can't relate the two at all.

The GOP has a LARGE number of people involved and thus much more interest. They are front and center, so people are more interested in weighing in.

Heck, I vote in every drudge poll saying Donald Trump won the debate (even if I didn't watch it). Its a fun circus side show.

The Democratic primary (if you pay attention to the media) is not really contested. There is an inevitable candidate and the one trying to play spoiler. The fact that the spoiler is doing as well as he is, is a miracle, given the lack of attention paid to the contest.

The fact that people are voting in the GOP primary doesn't mean they will vote GOP in November or even vote.. and just because people skip the Democratic primary doesn't mean they will skip in November.

IF we give them a candidate they can get behind (Sanders) they WILL turn out, because the media can't ignore the 1v1 contest the way they are ignoring the dems now.

If Clinton is the nominee, you will see the democratic apathy and likely be saying hello to President trump.. the only good news is that it is followed by President Simpson (at least according to the Simpsons.)

[Glitterati]

67. Give them something to vote FOR

Not just Republican threats to vote against.

INSPIRE people. Remember, Barack's "Yes, We can?"