Voter Registration -- SIGH

[theHandpuppet]

Brother, what a demoralizing experience.

This is the first time I've done any voter registration canvassing since moving to this neck of WV, so I decided to begin with the neighborhoods within walking distance of my home. As things turned out it started to rain after I had completed only one block of my journey -- which was just as well.

But before my most NOT-so-excellent adventure began, there was a matter of picking up the proper registration forms at the county courthouse. This was no problem (though I had to sign for them) but the registrar's office wasn't even sure if they had any handouts for voter information guides. Someone eventually sifted through some files and found about ten trifolds, of which I was given seven. Imagine that. Only ten handouts of voter information FOR THE WHOLE COUNTY. I was told I could call the Office of Elections in Charleston and ask for more, which I did when I got home. Guess what? They didn't have them either.

The folks in Charleston were quite nice, but really. They did tell me they had a voter registration guide which they could fax me or they could send me a copy and I could, on my own dime, make copies to distribute to any potential voters. Ah well, that's what I decided to do. Better than nothing at all.

So on to the canvassing...

Got my notebook, the forms, the seven voter guides, small memo sheets upon which I had copied the email addy for online registration and the phone number of the county registrar. Put on my best smile and headed out for what I hoped would be a friendly jaunt through our working class neighborhood. Let me give you an idea of the responses I got within just one block:

From one lady who declined to say whether or not she was interested in registering:
"You need to talk to the Mexicans!" (Huh?)

Then there was the house where the man of the home didn't allow his wife to vote. I don't know if the twenty-something son was registered, since he never looked up from his reclining position on the couch and I could only tell his mute, glassy-eyed self was conscious because the TV remote in his hand was clicking incessantly throughout my brief conversation.

Next came the country chic house with all the cutout hearts, the flags and the many signs which bore little sayings like "Welcome, Friends". Espying a middle aged couple on the porch fussing with the potted plants and still not too discouraged from my previous encounters, I smiled, "Good afternoon. I'm your neighbor from a few blocks up the road and was wondering if you folks might be interested in registering to vote."

The woman peered up at me and smiled sweetly.

"Well now, that's really none of your damn business," she said, then turned on her heel and went in the house.

After a moment of admittedly stunned silence, I turned to the man whose eyes barely lifted from the tomato plant he was tending. "I'm just offering registration forms to anyone who might be interested," I offered meekly.

"She told you it was none of your damn business," he grumbled in a way that told me to move on, and quickly.

Well, wasn't that special. I suppose all those little heart signs painted with invitations such as "Welcome Neighbor" must have been written in a kind of secret code for "Get the fuck outta here" and someone forgot to provide me with the proper decoder ring.

By this time (and there were more examples of this type) I was becoming fairly discouraged -- not at the lack of response, but the consistent, downright rudeness and hostility. Fortunately a thunderstorm came rolling in, making my next stop my last stop of the day. It was there I encountered a sullen, dull-eyed young man who responded to my offer of voter registration information with a decidely rude gesture and something equally rude mumbled in my direction.

By this time I was pretty well fed up.

"Just trying to be friendly, there's really no need to be rude," I said calmly.

"Why don't you go rude yourself off this street," he yelled, and continued to scream invectives at me all the way down the block.

By the time I reached home I was soaking wet and thoroughly pissed. I'm no novice at voter registration canvassing, but I've never encountered this kind of hostility before, even in some rural mountain areas of northern Virginia which folks advised you to avoid after dark.

Perhaps I'm just not cut out for this anymore. Then again, the guilty thought passed that although these folks wouldn't say whether or not they were registered, perhaps it was just as well. I don't think I want to know, but if I'm going to keep doing this I at least need to care.

So that's my whine for the day. Right now I guess I just need a word of encouragement, some sound advice, or even some uplifting anecdotes.

[SheilaT]

1. What a discouraging story.

While I applaud all registration efforts, I think that for the most part people who want to register do so willingly, especially since they can do so when getting a driver's license.

The hard-core non-voter, or the one who just can't be bothered, is tough to deal with. Sometimes I wonder why we bother to try to reach out to them.

I'm running for office myself, and so I've been walking my district to introduce myself to prospective voters. Much of my district is middle class people who own their own homes, and virtually all of them are registered. I was walking a few days ago in a neighborhood of duplexes, many of which are rental units. Only about half of the addresses had registered voters (I was working from the official lists)and about a quarter of them had moved since the list was updated about two months ago. Makes me understand why Republicans are so happy with low voter turnout.

[theHandpuppet]

2. It's too bad...

... that so many folks don't even know the basic facts about voting. That's who I'm trying to reach, I guess, more than the hardcore non-voters. In the past I've encountered folks who have said they were too old or feeble to make it to the polling places, unaware they could vote absentee or even be provided a ride. Then there are the folks that think if they register to vote they will be required to do jury duty. There are those who have committed felonies but are unaware that if they've served their time and completed parole, they CAN vote here in WV. Others don't know such basics as where to register, where to vote, when, how old they must be, et al.

That's why I was hoping to at least have a good handful of voter information guides with me, but even that was a bust. The only person who wanted one of my paltry seven trifolds was a woman who was one of the few already registered.

Working class folks have so much at stake I am at a loss to explain the lack of interest in voting. Perhaps its cynicism, I don't know. But right now I'm feeling pretty cynical myself.

[Catscape]

3. this may sound cynical, but....

I don't believe voter registration drives are a worthy cause. If someone is not motivated to do something as simple as registering to vote, it's a safe bet that they are also not informed on the important issues. I would rather see the UNinformed stay home on election day. Let's put more effort into explaining the issues. If people understand the importance of the issues we are facing (national security, jobs, environment, minimum wage), then the registrations will take care of themselves.

[theHandpuppet]

4. I'm inclined to agree...

... but I've found that too many folks uninterested in voting aren't likely to be interested in the issues, either. Or they just have some jingoistic blather so rooted in their brains that any real discussion of the issues is pointless. Am I going to stop at the house whose owner has emblazoned on their car, "God, Guns and Guts made this country -- let's keep all three!" or even better, "Happiness is a warm machine gun!"? Not bloody likely, as I don't think those folks would be particularly interested in opening up a dialogue.

Case in point -- that incredibly rude, middle aged couple I encountered, the ones with all the Americana on full display (including a large American flag fluttering from the porch) -- I really, REALLY wanted to ask them what they thought that flag stood for if it wasn't the right and duty of every citizen to vote. Why would anyone who puts their patriotism on such display be so hostile to another citizen simply trying to register voters? Wouldn't you -- no matter your party affiliation -- be GLAD someone was that invested in civic participation for all its citizens?

Be that as it may, the voter turnout in this country is abysmal and it seems to be getting WORSE. I don't know what the answer is. Certainly the act of voter registration is not going to inform folks in this country, but I'm simply afraid that there are too many people who just don't WANT to know what's really going on.

[fujiyama]

7. You're doing an amazing service

I've been trying to get a friend of mine registered, but he simply refuses to do it. It's so strange. I've sent him the link for "Rock the Vote". I asked him about the issues. I know he dislikes Bush but his attitude is so idiotic. The guy claims to find the environment to be an important issue. He has a Sierra Club sticker on his car.

There's only so much you can do. Some people just DON'T want to participate. These are the kind of people that complain when fascists and tyrannical regimes come into place but do nothing in their power -- even the absolute simplest thing, but won't. By not participating in "the system", they're above it all. They're not bothered by minute things like politics. All politicians are evil, so they'll simply say fuck it - I don't have to deal with it.

It's frustrating. As you said, I would expect anyone of ANY ideaology to be happy that someone is making an effort in doing something as unintrusive as registering voters. Hell, you weren't necessarily doing a partisan thing in any way. Their vote is ultimately their vote. It's secret. If they like the job Bush is doing, hell they can be crazy and vote for him.

If they don't like the job he's doing, and refuse to vote, they're complicit in the harm caused by him. There isn't any excuse.

[Aunt Anti-bush]

5. I am sorry you had such a rough day.

You are doing the right thing, though and unfortunately it isn't always an easy job to do the right thing. I hope you don't give up because of one bad day. Even if you have to go through 50 ignorant a**holes to get one person to register it will be worth it.


Here is a hug to make it a little better. :hug:

[AndyTiedye]

6. If They Are So Surly and Nasty, Do You Really WANT Them Voting?

They sound like they'd probably vote Republican.

While they certainly have the right to vote,
if they choose not to, perhaps it is for the best.

[qwlauren35]

8. I am SOOOO Sorry you experienced this!!!!

(Were you wearing Kerry or Democrat paraphenalia? They tell us not to when we're registering folks.)

If it's at all possible, try to contact your local Dem office and find out which areas are around 50% Dem or high Dem & high unregistered. They might be more grateful... also, going into apartment areas (if there are any) where people tend to move more often and need to re-register might be more productive.

I have had great success with this. So I'm going to share some of my stories in the hope that you will be encouraged.

I started doing voter registration late last year. My friends and I would go to black barbershops - because they are such great conversation spots. Most of the owners were registered and happy to encourage us. If we encountered someone who wasn't registered, his peers would usually chide him into registering. We just stood there, smiled, and took down the info.

In February, another friend of mine and I did voter registration at K-mart. We set up a table and just waved to folks. We registered 2-3 people who had just become naturalized, and another ~5 young women who had just turned 18 as well as several people who had recently moved, and a few who just believed that this was THE YEAR to vote. In general, it was just a very positive "awareness" effort and it went well.

Earlier this month, I started doing door-to-door voter registration with the local Dem office. The office specifically mapped out areas with high Dem populations AND high levels of unregistered voters. We met all kinds of people. We met a precinct chair who was already signed up to give rides to 30 people! We met a very conservative, religious man who was very proud to be supporting Kerry, but needed a ride to the polls. We arranged it. We met a woman who was so excited to register, she signed up for a Kerry yard sign. We went into a Mexican neighborhood. Most of the residents weren't citizens, but many of them were quite happy to put Kerry bumperstickers on their cars. We met a few ex-felons, and encouraged them to register. Some of them didn't know that they could. I remember one neighbor who yelled at the next-door neighbor "You better answer the door - you NEED to vote!" We were also making sure that people knew that North Carolina has early-voting sites. I braved some seriously barking dogs, and was able to help a woman who often had trouble getting to the polls on time. Also talked to many women with children who were thrilled with the Saturday voting hours two weeks before the election.

I am always saddened to hear that people have bad experiences registering voters. But I hope hearing some ideas that have worked might help.

Best of luck.

[CitySky]

9. Don't Give Up

Handpuppet -

You got your hiney out of the house -- good for you! It will come back to you one way or another. O8)

Don't give up, just learn & adapt your strategies. Sounds like hooking in with your local Dem party officials (? if they exist) may be a good idea. Here they have a database that shows who's already registered; we just go to the other addresses. (This is in a heavily Dem neighborhood.)

This is my first year of voter reg -- and truth be known so far no-one has signed up with me in my block-walking either. We left cards with some. I think people are suspicious of handing personal info to strangers, maybe for good reason. BUT: I keep the book handy and have registered 7 friends who happen to have moved since the last time they voted. You never know.

[gardenista]

10. Awwwww. As bad as it might have been, you gave me a laugh

about the secret code in the welcome signs.

I'm afraid you've landed in freeperville, and they could spot you for a Dem from a mile away.

Have you thought about setting up a table at the local farmer's market? My dad is doing that with great success, even in the conservative suburbs of Sacramento, CA.

I think people in WV have a thing about people coming to their door.

Nevertheless, you were courageous to get out there! Wish you better luck next time!

[crispini]

11. you made a good cause,

you got your good energy out there. and if they're that backasswards, you don't want them voting anyway.

pat yourself on the back, tell yourself you're doing everything you can. cause you did and you are!

((( BIG HUG FROM ME)))

[Township75]

12. Poor THP...

what part of WV do you live in?

Anyway, I hope one day you can look back at this and laugh, though I am sure it doesn't appear possible now. I laughed so hard at this:

I suppose all those little heart signs painted with invitations such as "Welcome Neighbor" must have been written in a kind of secret code for "Get the fuck outta here" and someone forgot to provide me with the proper decoder ring.


Maybe people not involved in politics are just suspicious of anyone approaching them about issues related to politics. I once was very politically active, but now I find myself so frustrated and sometimes discusted with politics I don't want to vote, don't want to read-up on issues, and want to avoid anything to do with politics. Some people may feel similarly, even though it spouts from different reasons.

Well, it's good this country has people like you to do this work, despite how rough it and thankless it can be. Hope your next experience is better.

[claire_acorn]

13. Ouch--I've been there

I'm so sorry you had such a crummy experience. I winced when I read the "Welcome Neighbor" story. I had a very similar experience in Pittsburgh while canvassing for ACORN. At this point, it's getting harder to find unregistered people out there, and many of them are very rude. I know it's hard to believe it now, but it's a worthy cause.