Supporting Your Candidate without Emptying Your Wallet
by Alisha Howell
The political campaign rolls on this summer and chatter about the contenders for local seats and the highest office in the land continues to occur in the nation’s capital. No matter what your political affiliation, donating money to either a local or national campaign is something each candidate encourages from its supporters, but this is not the only way you can show your support. Instead of giving money that you may not have, here are some simple, no-cost and low-cost ways you can help your candidate get elected.
Volunteer with a campaign
What better time to canvass outdoors than the summertime? Canvassing allows supporters to walk around in the warm, sunny weather to various communities and speak to people about the candidate of their choice and why the residents should vote for him or her. Interested community members can simply visit their candidate’s website or call his or her office for specific information in the DC area.
Political parties also have volunteer sign-up forms on their websites and other ways to volunteer include making phone calls, registering voters, or recruiting more volunteers. Check out the following sites for more information:
Some DC City Councilmembers up for re-election, as well as their opponents, also have online forms through their websites to sign up to volunteer for the campaign. The DC Board of Elections and Ethics is a good resource to see who is running for local office. A list of all candidates on the ballot for the September 9, 2008, DC primary can be found at: www.dcboee.org and click on “List of Candidates for the September 9, 2008 Primary Election.”
Attend or host an event
Summer months are full of free campaign events to attend. Presidential candidates have events almost daily and you can find a list of programs in your area on the website of your favorite candidate. Local DC City Councilmember candidates hold events as well in their respective Wards. Being a rally attendee shows your dedication to the campaign and if you are one of many, it shows other voters, perhaps undecided, just how big a following your candidate has amassed.
Hosting an event might seem expensive but actually it can be a low-cost way to show support. Campaign rallies at parks or homes congregate supporters in one area to brainstorm ways to help the campaign. It can be as low-cost (punch and cookies) or high-end (catered dinner) as you like, and asking everyone to bring a dish to share will cut down on costs, too.
Show and Tell
Signs in the window or yard, wearing a campaign button, a bumper sticker, or passing out flyers are all ways you can show your support this campaign season. Some news shows even feature segments for viewers to call-in or email the show and express their political opinions. You can also use the internet to create a fan site supporting your candidate or link a candidate’s site to your own existing page. Just make sure you create your own content and do not copy text from another site and place it on yours…that is illegal!
It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of a political campaign, especially the ones we are currently observing. These no and low-cost, fun, simple, and creative options provide the avid supporter with a more personal way to get involved and make a difference.
DON’T FORGET!
Regardless of whether you decide to engage in these or other political activities, the most important event of all is Election Day, which is always free. So get registered and go to the polls on September 9 and November 4 to make sure you are heard at the ballot box this year.
August 11 is the last day to register to vote in the DC Primary elections on September 9, 2008.
October 6 is the last day to register to vote in the General election on November 4, 2008.
To register, simply fill out the form on the DC Board of Elections website (http://www.dcboee.org/voterreg/ovr_step1.asp) and mail-in supporting registration materials to:
DC Board of Elections and Ethics
Attn: e-Government Division
441 4th Street, NW, Suite 250 North
Washington, DC 20001
Send feedback on this column and your ideas for future topics to saving@caab.org.
