Voter-registration activism -- advice wanted

[lwcon]

There are four parts to winning in November:

* Getting people registered
* Getting people to the polls
* Getting people to vote Democratic
* Making sure the vote counts are honest

What can we do to get started with the first one -- what online (and other) resources and strategies do you recommend for getting people registered?

Rock the Vote is the most famous, but it may be too hipsterish for some voters. Your Vote Matters looks like a reasonable alternative. Are there better choices?

Anecdotally, one hears that minority voters are under-registered. Is that true, and what can we do to help? FYI, The NAACP's National Voter Fund page doesn't seem to have been updated in quite some time: http://www.naacpnvf.org/.

Now that that the GOP has shown its true feelings toward our Latin population, activism in that community may be among our best-spent efforts. Given the stunning ability of the Latin community to organize the recent protests, is this already well-in-hand, and are their good organizations we should donate to, to help them with get-out-the-vote activism?

Also, is there a recommended process that will ensure that voters don't find, when they show up at the polls, that they've been wrongly thrown off the rolls, as thousands of (mostly) minority voters discovered in Florida in 2000.

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[roseBudd]

1. I just walked around everyday with a clipboard...

Watch for legibility, it's hard to write on a clipboard. Also spot check to make sure everything is filled out. Age can be difficult to discern, I even asked a 14 year old in front of his mom.

[benddem]

2. single women

are under registered and we should be talking to everyone we know and inform her that her rights are going away rapidly. They need to vote.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. I just kept a few forms with me...

everywhere I went, in case it came up. Never did actually get out into a concentrated registration drive, but always had the forms and got people to sign up.

Many organizations have their own registration and GOTV campaigns, and it's not difficult to find them, even some churches are doing it (as long as they don't tell you WHO to vote for, it's OK). Can't say that any are necessarily better than others, so either drop into local party or campaign headquarters and ask there, or whatever your personal activism activities are, someone will know of a drive.

As far as keeping the voter rolls honest, I never ran into that problem anywhere I lived, but the only sensible advice I've heard is to check before the election to see if you're still there. If you get a sample ballot in the mail, you are most likely on the rolls.

[lwcon]

4. Bump

Does anyone else think that registration drives are a good place to put our activism into practice?

If so, suggestions on how to do it successfully will be a big help and much appreciated.
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Hey, the liberal light is always on at the Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy. Please stop by and say "hi!"

[blondeatlast]

5. Here's a great project from Mainstreet Moms Operation Blue

(Formerly MM Oppose Bush): Vote at 18.

http://www.themmob.org/voteat18/voteat18.html

They are going into high schools and registering seniors. Great idea on their part.

Rats--I tried to recommend this thread--we need to get into this mode now. Unfortunately, it's too late to recommend.

I'll try to kick it occasionally--this is a HUGE deal with me.