With so much at stake in Georgia’s US Senate runoff elections, Americans everywhere are looking for ways to get involved. Check out how you can phone bank, canvas, and donate even if you don’t live in Georgia.
On Jan. 5, 2020, control of the US Senate will be decided by voters in Georgia. Two separate runoff elections—one between Jon Ossoff and Sen. David Perdue and the other between Raphael Warnock and Sen. Kelly Loeffler—will determine if Democrats receive enough seats in the Senate take control and help deliver on President-elect Joe Biden’s ambitious agenda.
Given the significance of the Senate races in Georgia, Democrats across the country are wondering how they can get involved—even if they don’t live in Georgia. Whether you’re able to donate time or money, here are the best ways to get involved in the Georgia runoff elections.
Phone and Text Banking with Georgia Voters
While direct voter-to-voter contact is considered the most effective way to influence voters, in-person canvassing has been scaled back to COVID-19 (more on that below). However, phone and text banking are an easy way to help spread the word about registering to vote, the candidates, and important dates. Volunteers can sign up through Mobilize to phone bank for Jon Ossoff for Senate and Warnock for Georgia. From today through Jan. 5, volunteers can sign up for two- or three-hour time slots.
You can also join Fair Fight Action, which was founded in 2018 by Stacey Abrams to address voter suppression. Other organizations dedicated to texting and calling Democratic voters include Flip the West, which was founded in response to Trump’s presidency, and Reclaim Our Vote, which also offers postcarding for those looking to do something a little more hands-on than texting or calling.
Canvassing in Georgia
COVID-19 has suppressed much of the traditional canvassing outreach that takes place during elections. However, there are still some organizations that are managing to speak to locals safely. The Democratic Party of Georgia has in-person ballot cure canvassing starting Nov. 29 and running through election day.
Progressive advocacy foundation People For the American Way also offers socially distanced canvassing as one of their many ways of volunteering to help support Democrats win the Georgia runoff election.
However, those who are traveling to Georgia from out of state should be mindful of the current state of the pandemic and adhere to CDC guidelines for quarantining and staying socially distant.
Help Georgians to Register to Vote
While organizers have done an exceptional job registering new voters in Georgia over the past few years, there are still unregistered voters out there. That’s particularly true of those who turn 18 between the Nov. 3 general election and Jan. 5, 2021, when the Senate runoffs take place in Georgia. Groups like The New Georgia Project are accepting volunteers.
Donate
If the above aren’t viable, or you want to contribute in an additional way, donating money is always welcome. Stacey Abrams tweeted on Nov. 9 that Fair Fight Action had already raised $6 million to help Ossoff and Warnock win their runoff elections. You can donate directly to the campaigns of Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, or help fund organizations that are registering voters, fighting voter suppression, helping people cure incorrect absentee ballots, and protecting votes. In addition to Fair Fight Action, some reputable organizations include the non-partisan Common Cause Georgia and the already mentioned New Georgia Project.
Lara Grant Lara Grant is a freelance writer and editor based in New York City. She's also a certified meditation teacher and has her own programs aimed to bring more peace into people's lives.
