Want to help get out the vote? Here are some ways to get involved in Arizona

You can get involved in all steps of the voting process by helping people register to vote, make a voting plan, and physically get to the polls. 

There are many ways to get involved with an election: by volunteering for a campaign, becoming a poll worker, and/or casting your own ballot. 

But there’s also the very important task of helping people get to the polls. The higher the turnout in an election, the better—as the MIT Election Date and Science Hub states, high voter turnout is “considered a mark of a thriving democracy.”

Here are some ways you can protect democracy and help get out the vote: 

Voter registration

You can get involved in get-out-the-vote (GOTV) efforts starting with getting people registered to vote. The last day in Arizona to register to vote in November’s general election is Oct. 7. 

You can start by checking with people in your immediate circles and seeing if they’re registered, and being ready to help them do so if they’re not. 

You can also get involved in a larger voter registration drive with organizations like Rock the Vote, When We All Vote, Tomorrow We Vote, and the League of Women Voters.

If you frequent a place where you think you can get lots of people signed up at one time, you can also host your own voter drive. You can request a toolkit from Rock the Vote that includes event guides, QR codes, and graphics for social media.  

GOTV campaigns

Once people are registered to vote, they next have to figure out their voting plan, i.e., if they will request an early ballot or vote in person. 

You can get involved in various GOTV campaigns that help educate people about how to actually cast their ballot and remind them of important deadlines. 

These campaigns may include texting and calling voters, sending voters postcards, or door-knocking neighborhoods and speaking directly with voters. 

Some organizations running campaigns like this include the League of Women Voters, VoteRiders, Black Voters Matter, Voto Latino, and When We All Vote.  

You can also check with local political party offices and candidates if you’d like to get involved with their specific GOTV efforts. 

Arranging rides

Another way to help people vote is to help them physically get to the polls. If someone you know wants to vote in person but they can’t drive or don’t have a car, offering them a ride may be the thing that ensures that they cast their ballot. 

Even if someone is able to drive to a voting center, you can make plans to carpool to the polls with them to increase the likelihood of them voting.  

You can also volunteer with a group like Rideshare2Vote that connects voters with drivers to get them to the polls. You can help as a driver, a dispatcher, or a voter outreach volunteer. 

Spreading the word

A very simple way to help get out the vote is by spreading the word. You can ask friends, family, coworkers, or anyone else in your circle what their voting plan is and help them find resources if they’re not sure what works best for them.

You can post reminders on social media about voting deadlines (example here) and share resources that help educate people about what’s on their ballot. 

You can also post about your own voting experience and show off your “I Voted” sticker to encourage others and help them see that it’s doable! In the case of voting, peer pressure can be a good thing. 

Donating

Lastly, if you’re realizing some of these actions may require more time or energy than you have to give, you can consider donating to organizations involved in getting out the vote like the ones linked above.

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.