Thursday, September 3, 2026
Election Protection: two bite-sized ways to help before November 3rd
Joanne Dillon , Indivisible Binghamton member
Highlights from the Indivisible national kick-off — why safe-state volunteers matter in battleground states, how the at-home phone banking system works, and a ten-door neighborhood canvass you can finish in an afternoon.
The Indivisible Zoom kick-off was invigorating, to say the least. If you’ve been feeling dejected lately — especially about the mess with the USPS and mail-in voting — this is a shot in the arm. So much enthusiasm and commitment. That doesn’t mean you need or want to watch the whole thing, so here are the highlights.
We live in a “safe state.” That doesn’t mean we sit this one out.
While we can’t rule out the possibility that havoc will occur on November 3rd, it is far more likely to be a problem in the so-called battleground states — those whose election officials are more open to cooperating in subverting the vote. With the help of technology we can now easily reach voters in those states and help them navigate what seems more and more like a daunting process to vote.
1. Phone banking, from your kitchen table
Indivisible uses a phone banking system that lets you make calls from home through Zoom. The calls go only to Democratic voters, and only to those who pick up the phone. The trainers provide everything you need — an opening script, plus resources to recommend to the voters you reach on how to check their registration, identify early vote locations and hours, and find other information they may be looking for.
I can say from using this system way back in 2020, when it was in its infancy, that it’s worth a try just to see whether it’s a good match for you.
2. Ten doors in your own neighborhood
Closer to home, even in our safe-ish state, reassuring voters about our election system and encouraging them to make a concrete plan to vote is the highest priority.
I have often, in the past few months, felt the impulse to simply knock on every door within a two-block radius to start bringing this urgency to people’s attention. Indivisible must have been listening, because they’ve created an opportunity to receive ten addresses in your neighborhood, a script to get you started, and a flyer you can either leave at the door if they’re not home or hand over as a reminder of your conversation. No app to download, and you go at your own pace. When you finish, you can request the next ten closest doors.
This strikes me as a truly bite-sized commitment, just to test the waters. I’ve signed up, and I’ll let you know how it goes.
Enough for now
Let me know what you think — and come stand with us at the Friday and Saturday visibility protests, where between now and November 3rd our signs are all about the vote.