๐Ÿ“š Dispelling the 'Why Should I Vote?' Crowd

Part III: Breaking Down Freedoms, Family, & Futures with the BAC

Sam Chavez
Sam Chavez

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We're in the final 10 days of the U.S. election. Ballots are being cast, but there is still an important constituency to reach. Those are the 34% of voters who donโ€™t vote! We discuss how to help people off the sidelines in our final installment with the Bay Area Coalitionโ€™s messaging library.

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Connecting with the 34%

One of the biggest messaging challenges of our times is not an individual issue, but more broadly if voters will chose to practice their constitutional right to vote. In the 2020 election, a third of the electorate chose to sit out the election. We call these people, the 34%.

There are all different kinds of reasons for why people choose not to vote. For many dedicated Democrats, it's hard to see those reasons, because volunteers are so closely tied into politics. However, there are many reasons for not voting and Iโ€™ve heard a many of them at the doors or talking with friends about the election.

Many folks who don't vote simply don't have the time or ease to vote. In many states across the country, GOP officials have made it harder to vote. It's illegal to pass out water to voters waiting in line in Georgia. For many working class people, the idea of taking time away from work or their families is the loss of a paycheck or a meal. There is also the crowd of people who are rightfully frustrated with the current state of politics and choose to tune it out.

Don't Shame the Vote

No matter the reason, the 34% chose to sit out the 2020 election despite record turnout. When communicating about taking action for social change like voting, itโ€™s important to stay curious and not to jump to conclusions. The first and most important thing to realize when talking to someone who isnโ€™t fully aligned with your values or actions is to NOT shame them.

It sounds obvious, but bringing curiosity over judgement will allow people to be more open to change.

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