Join the Blue Wave this weekend and next week!

Lots of promising signs of the building Blue Wave out there, people. Early voting among young people in both Texas and Georgia is up 500%! And early voting by African-Americans and Hispanics – both traditionally Democratic constituencies – has more than doubled.

The Democratic challenger in my swing district has a narrow lead over the Republican incumbent in the latest polls.

And I know I am not alone in the volume of texts and calls I've been getting urging me to vote for Dems, right?

But none of us can afford to sit this one out. And I don't mean just getting your butt to the polls on Election Day - we all need to help with the Get Out the Vote effort. There are lots of ways to get involved, I hope you'll pick at least one of them.

Go door to door. This is the most effective way to boost turnout. I know it's a bit daunting the first time but do it with a friend and it can be fun! If you're not sure who to volunteer with, here are some options:

• Go to the web site of whoever is running for office in your district and sign up to volunteer. For those of you in my area, here's the link to Antonio Delgado's volunteer events/sign up page or just email phoebe at delgadoforcongress dot com.
• Sign up with the Working Families Party's election efforts.
• If you're in my neck of the Woodstock (NY-19) you can join Citizen Action of NY's canvassing efforts in Kingston. 
• Sign up with Swing Left or Flippable.

Make calls or send texts.

• Indivisible is running a big phone and text bank from now through the election. Sign up here and join for however much time you can.
• Moms Rising has a very accessible option - you sign up for a 20 minute shift of either calls or texts, your choice - that's it! Sign up here.
• If you're in upstate NY's Capitol region, you can join Citizen Action's Blue Wave phonebank in Albany. 
• Sign up with Swing Left or Flippable.
• Join the MoveOn.org text team - starting on 11/4/18.

Drive people to the polls.

Connect with the campaign of whoever is running near you or with a local nonprofit who is arranging rides for people. 

In NY-19, try Citizen Action - email Andy, their field director - afalk at citizen actionny dot org. Or try one of these national services below.

• Carpool Vote
• The Last Weekend
• Drive Vote is organizing rides to the polls in three districts - CA-25, TX-14, WI-1 - you can sign up here.

Reach out to your friends and family!

Don't neglect those nearest and dearest to you. Make sure everyone you know (who agrees with your politics, that is) has a plan to vote and is informed about any local ballot initiatives. 

Heads up, those of you in Ulster County, you should vote YES on Proposition 1 to establish an unbiased redistricting committee. And I am voting No on Proposition 2 to dissolve and terminate our library district.

And consider voting for the Democratic candidates on the Working Families Party line, too.