During the past fall, I worked as the phone bank captain and a fellow for the Ohio Democratic Party in the Athens County Democrats office. I worked alongside impressive individuals and learned an incredible amount.
Volunteering is the one thing anyone remotely interested in politics will beg you to do during a campaign season. As someone on the outside, it can seem extremely overwhelming. The good news is, there are varying levels of involvement and so many different ways to get involved.
The main two types of volunteering opportunities are canvassing and phone banking. Canvassing is the most common form of volunteering that helps volunteers directly connect with the most voters. Here, you would take a packet outlining a map and the people you will talk to. Then the door knocking can begin! It’s as simple as approaching doors and reading off of a script.
Phone banking is not all that different. It involves making calls from a list, or an autodialer, in which a system calls the numbers for the volunteer and provides the volunteer with a script. All of this information is then returned to the field organizers to be properly entered.
Though these are the most common ways to volunteer, there are a ton of other opportunities to get involved. Before the voter registration deadline in October, there will always be a huge push to get as many people registered. This includes making sure voters reregister if their address has changed. Some people also write letters to the editor and send out postcards for the campaign. However, anyone unable to volunteer in these ways can take alternative routes. Any campaign office will accept food if someone is willing to give it, and others can stop by just to help tidy up the office.
During my time with the 2018 midterm campaign, I saw so many wonderful volunteers. Many people who came in to canvass would have the most rewarding stories. Connecting with voters in person and having honest conversations, even when they did not necessarily see eye to eye, is a satisfying feeling. Volunteers who made calls shared amazing connections with voters all over the state. All it takes is one appreciative person to make the hours of volunteering worth it.
Personally, I found the entire campaign to be an uplifting and encouraging experience. It’s no secret the Democratic party in Ohio felt a tad disheartened at our state’s results, but the campaign itself filled me with hope for our future. I met with so many young people energized over helping the country along a path they can be proud of; one they want to grow older in. The real highlight of this campaign was connecting with the county Democrats. Meeting such wise and experienced individuals and listening to why they still fight for a better country after all these years was an uplifting experience. Their knowledge and ambition pushed us onward when we felt too tired to continue. We made connections with these amazing people and I am not alone in saying I now call many of them my friends.
I joined the campaign under the impression that I was not capable of doing much. I thought I would be too busy, and besides, I did not have any experience doing anything campaign related. However, many of my friends and colleagues convinced me to apply for the fellowship through the Ohio Democratic Party. I was lucky enough to receive a leadership role and work with so many people; I truly cannot believe I ever wanted to say no. In a time when everyone is getting ready to gear up for the 2020 election, I want to let everyone know that volunteering is one of the best things to do with your spare time. Meet new people, some of which could even become your best friends. You can make a difference by connecting with voters. Do whatever you are able to do, for however long you can. The cliché is true: every little bit helps.
Meah McCallister is a sophomore studying creative writing at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to reach the College Democrats? Send them a tweet @OUCollegeDems.
