Be ‘that person’: 3 ways to get out the vote with your friends and family

You can be a one-person get out the vote crew, simply by checking in with your network of friends and family leading up to Election Day.

There are many ways to help get out the vote during an election season, from volunteering with a campaign to getting involved with groups like the MI Students Vote Network, who help students organize to register voters and raise election awareness on campus.

You can also be a one-person get out the vote crew, simply by checking in with your network of friends and family leading up to Election Day. We’re not suggesting uncomfortable conversations about politics at a dinner party or family get together. This is all about reminding people to simply participate in the democratic process and exercise their right to vote.

Here are three ideas:

Remind your peeps to register to vote

It’s pretty simple: You can’t participate in an election if you aren’t registered to vote. Ask your friends and family if they’re registered to vote. If they are, fantastic. If they’re not, politely implore them to register ASAP. Explain to them how easy the process of registering to vote is, and that they can do it online, by mail, or in person. And make sure they understand that you can vote all the way up to 8 p.m. on Election Day (Nov. 5).

Check in with your elders

This includes parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, along with your elderly neighbors and those friendly faces at the grocery store and your local park. Text them, call them, or pay them a visit and make sure they’ve got a plan to vote. Remind them that they don’t even have to leave the house to vote. They can apply for a mail-in ballot. Let them know about early in-person voting.

And if they are planning to vote in person on Election Day, make sure they have a way to get to the polls. Offer to drive them if you’re able. If not, let them know that some cities in Michigan offer free bus service to the polls on Election Day. Other areas are home to organizations that will help connect voters with free rides to the polls—including MoGo, which serves Metro Detroit by allowing free use of their rentable city bikes on Election Day. Check out their website for more.

Make sure your crew is informed about the candidates and issues

Again, we’re not suggesting you bring up reproductive rights at your nephew’s 10th birthday party. Just make sure your friends and family know who’s on the ballot and what issues are at stake. Point them toward trusted, nonpartisan resources.

One of the most highly regarded resources that explains who and what is on the ballot is the League of Women Voters of Michigan. They’ve also got more personalized election-related resources at their VOTE411 page. And Ballotpedia is known as the “digital encyclopedia of American politics” for good reason. It’s a thoroughly detailed hub with election news and information on candidates, ballot questions, public policy analysis, and even sample ballots for your district.

Are you ready to vote? Make sure to check your voter registration status, see who’s on your ballot, and make a voting plan here.