Hellooo All and especially Jess- got trained on VA Dems last week and they walk you through their very organized system! So I jumped on to make some calls as they give you a link once you are trained (let the birdies fly from the nest and all that! ) and after seeing the shout out from Jess. Have been texting a big part of the day so it was a nice change- MOST of the people I was able to speak to had already gotten the info and had a plan in place to remedy it- (like go to registrars office etc) so the calls are working if you can infer from my very limited number out of thousands! WOOT!
And to answer your question "How would someone phone bank...", here's what I did, for example, for calling today to help people fix their ballots in Virginia:
On my desktop computer (I've worked from my laptop too), join the Zoom training and support team.
When they provide it, click the link in the Chat.
This opens a Google Drive doc with all the other links and resources.
Click and open all the links.
Log in to the Virtual Phone Bank (VPB) platform. (I did ballot cure calls for Nevada in 2022, so I already had an account, and my username and PW autofilled...super easy.)
When a voter screen comes up, read the basic info: What's going on with their ballot? What needs to happen next? What county are they in, and (using the locator tool I have open in a different browser tab) what is their registrar's phone number and email address?
When ready, I copy the voter's phone number and paste it into Google Voice, on another tab, and hit Return. The call dials...
And I follow the script and hopefully do some good.
I really like that the protocol with this ballot curing includes leaving voicemails. Many voters won't answer an unknown number, but they will listen later to a VM...and then have the push and the info to cure their ballot!
Tech note: For my Google Voice number (it's free), I already had a Google Contact listing. Today I edited that listing to be "Virginia Voter Protection - Ballot Curing Support" -- so that's the Caller ID seen by voters I'm calling. Should help. (And I always use my first and last name, and say right away I'm a volunteer...)
Most of us calling for Virginia are calling from out of state. It all goes through your computer and the person you’re calling cannot see your phone number when you call through the system.
I'm in Colorado and just called with the VA Dems to cure ballots. This was my first time with this group. The training was patient and thorough; great folks. Here's from one of the emails I got back after signing up for two more shifts:
I’ve signed up to make calls with Virginia Voter Protection on Monday, Nov 6, 2023. Are you free to join me? Use this link to sign up: https://mobilize.us/s/CpKxId
I get so nervous phone banking - not for the conversations but for the tecnology. (What's a Slack??!!) But it's VA and it's essential. So I'm going to make calls. And I went door knocking on Saturday (It's pretty close from DC to VA! Thanks for all you do to help us get out there! Blessings,
Signed up to cure ballots on Wednesday. This will be a new experience
You're making me tear up. Thank you for your courage! Really!
Hellooo All and especially Jess- got trained on VA Dems last week and they walk you through their very organized system! So I jumped on to make some calls as they give you a link once you are trained (let the birdies fly from the nest and all that! ) and after seeing the shout out from Jess. Have been texting a big part of the day so it was a nice change- MOST of the people I was able to speak to had already gotten the info and had a plan in place to remedy it- (like go to registrars office etc) so the calls are working if you can infer from my very limited number out of thousands! WOOT!
Love that! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing this info. I’ve signed up to help cure ballots on Friday. Not sure what to expect, but this election is so important.
Thanks Teri. They will walk you through all of it. Promise!
Ballot curing will continue until the deadline November 13.
Thank you!
Just signed up for the Monday night phonebank
Literally could not be more grateful. Thank you.
Just signed up to cure ballots; at least it feels like we can do something!
AMAZING NANCY THANK YOU!
Thank you. I have shared information with my friends and will be signing up. I have a canvassing event tomorrow afternoon and I will let them know.
Thanks Again for the heads up!
Angie
You’re the heat thank you!
Best not heat!
I signed up for a Sister District phone bank tomorrow.
Whooo thank you!
I signed up for VA ballot curing on Friday. It's as important as anything I can do. Thanks for sharing Jessica!
You're the best! Thank you!
How would someone phone bank for Virginia, if they are in Washington State?
I’m in WA too. Welcome.
And to answer your question "How would someone phone bank...", here's what I did, for example, for calling today to help people fix their ballots in Virginia:
On my desktop computer (I've worked from my laptop too), join the Zoom training and support team.
When they provide it, click the link in the Chat.
This opens a Google Drive doc with all the other links and resources.
Click and open all the links.
Log in to the Virtual Phone Bank (VPB) platform. (I did ballot cure calls for Nevada in 2022, so I already had an account, and my username and PW autofilled...super easy.)
When a voter screen comes up, read the basic info: What's going on with their ballot? What needs to happen next? What county are they in, and (using the locator tool I have open in a different browser tab) what is their registrar's phone number and email address?
When ready, I copy the voter's phone number and paste it into Google Voice, on another tab, and hit Return. The call dials...
And I follow the script and hopefully do some good.
I really like that the protocol with this ballot curing includes leaving voicemails. Many voters won't answer an unknown number, but they will listen later to a VM...and then have the push and the info to cure their ballot!
Tech note: For my Google Voice number (it's free), I already had a Google Contact listing. Today I edited that listing to be "Virginia Voter Protection - Ballot Curing Support" -- so that's the Caller ID seen by voters I'm calling. Should help. (And I always use my first and last name, and say right away I'm a volunteer...)
Most of us calling for Virginia are calling from out of state. It all goes through your computer and the person you’re calling cannot see your phone number when you call through the system.
Sara,
I'm in Colorado and just called with the VA Dems to cure ballots. This was my first time with this group. The training was patient and thorough; great folks. Here's from one of the emails I got back after signing up for two more shifts:
I’ve signed up to make calls with Virginia Voter Protection on Monday, Nov 6, 2023. Are you free to join me? Use this link to sign up: https://mobilize.us/s/CpKxId
Go for it!!
I get so nervous phone banking - not for the conversations but for the tecnology. (What's a Slack??!!) But it's VA and it's essential. So I'm going to make calls. And I went door knocking on Saturday (It's pretty close from DC to VA! Thanks for all you do to help us get out there! Blessings,