Resources
Since 2020, my colleagues and I have trained more than 2,500 volunteers nationally.
Our workshops teach volunteers how to communicate more effectively with voters. By engaging with respect, empathy and nonjudgmental curiosity, we can help elicit what is most important to a voter, and connect that to what’s at stake in the upcoming election. Following are some resources to help you in your own conversations with voters:
Yes on Prop 50: Sample Script
This phrase list can help guide your conversations with voters about California’s Proposition 50, the special election to push back against Trump’s power grab and gerrymandering in Texas.
Phone Bank and Canvassing Training for Introverts (& Friends)
Would you rather have a colonoscopy than talk with politics with strangers? Watch this training, which is designed for people “on the fence” about calling voters or knocking doors. Elizabeth Chur and fellow Swing Left San Francisco volunteer Myra Levy explain why talking directly with voters is the most effective voter engagement tool, and why it’s important to start now. They’ll give you pointers about what to expect when you phone bank and how to navigate the first minute of a call so voters are less likely to hang up. You’ll also learn Elizabeth’s Three Magic Phrases, which work in almost any situation.
You and the 34%: How to Have Meaningful Conversations with High-Potential Voters
In 2020, 34% of eligible voters didn’t vote. In this training, you will learn how to make “I don’t vote” the beginning (not the end) of the conversation. Jacqueline Tulsky, MD, and Elizabeth Chur share stories of success, and give you tools drawn from Motivational Interviewing to help you draw out “high-potential voters,” elicit their desires for change, and turn them into voters.
Spanish for Activists
These videos show how to engage in meaningful conversations with voters who are most comfortable speaking Spanish. We include vocabulary and phone etiquette tips to help you navigate the critical first 30 seconds of a conversation – including phrases that communicate respect and help you earn voters’ trust. Taught by Elizabeth Chur and Mayela Galindo, a Spanish teacher and native speaker.
Election Spanish for Absolute Beginners
Even if you don’t speak Spanish, learning a few key phrases can help you have positive interactions with voters. This video demonstrates a few phrases that help to convey respect, increase your candidate’s name recognition, and let the voter know that someone else who speaks Spanish will call them back. Taught by Elizabeth Chur and Mayela Galindo, a Spanish teacher and native speaker.
Motivational Interviewing to Re-Engage Volunteers
We need a huge outpouring of volunteers to power the next Blue Wave, but some former volunteers are hesitant to jump back in. Learn how to use Motivational Interviewing to reconnect with these wonderful activists and help them reignite their enthusiasm for voter engagement. Taught by Elizabeth Chur, Swing Blue Alliance volunteer Victoria Levi, MD, and Allies for Democracy volunteer Dara Friedman-Wheeler, PhD.
Ballot Curing: Pro Tips
Some close elections will be decided by the number of ballots we can “cure” – helping voters who forgot to sign their ballot or have a signature mismatch ensure their votes are counted. Elizabeth Chur has cured more than 50 ballots in recent elections. She shares her top tips for connecting with these sometimes hard-to-reach voters, and helping them complete their cure forms.