Up and down the ballot, each election is vital to finally creating a future free from gun violence.
That’s why Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action, and Students Demand Action organize a Weekend of Action to Get Out The Vote (GOTV) for gun safety.
What is a Weekend of Action?
During a Weekend of Action, volunteers with Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action chapters across the country organize events on the same weekend. These weekends are a nationwide effort to make direct contact with voters and turn out all identified supporters to vote in the next election.
When is the next Weekend of Action?
In 2024, Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action, and Students Demand Action are hosting two Weekends of Action:
- September 13–15
- October 18–20
How do I get involved in a Weekend of Action?
Visit GunSenseVoter.org/Take-Action, then click on your state to find Weekend of Action events in your area. Events include:
- Phonebanking and text-banking;
- Canvassing for Gun Sense Candidates; and
- Post-card writing.
Whether you have five minutes or five hours, there is something you can do to help Get Out The Vote for gun safety!
The conversation you have or the postcard you send could be the difference between someone sitting on the sidelines—or showing up and changing the outcome of the election.
I’ve never done this before. How do I …?
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Phonebank
While things have certainly changed since everyone had a landline and everyone answered the phone, the data show that phonebanking is still one of the most effective ways to drive people to take action—including actions around elections work.
Phonebanking is flexible, adaptable, and can be done from anywhere in the country.
Wondering how it works? After you RSVP to an event on Gun Sense Voter, you’ll get more details from the event organizer via email. In the meantime, here are the 4 Cs of Phonebanking:
- Connect: Let the person on the other end of the line know what makes you care about gun violence.
- Context: Explain why you are reaching out, and why now. Describe what we’re trying to accomplish and why we need their help!
- Commit: Describe the event or opportunity for action, then make a specific ask.
- Catapult: This final step is our opportunity to set them up for success and make sure they have what they need to follow through. Repeat back their commitment, or talk them through any next steps.
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Canvass
Canvassing involves going door-to-door to talk with residents about your candidate or cause.
A general pro-tip when getting out the vote is the more personal, the more impactful. Face-to-face conversations can make a big difference in making people care about your cause!
You’ll get more information from event organizers when you RSVP and show up for a canvassing event. A few general tips for canvassing include:
- Wear your red shirt or other gun-sense swag. That will give people a visual cue of why you’re there to talk with them.
- Get ready to walk. Moving door-to-door means you’ll get your steps in! Wear comfortable shoes, bring a water bottle, and remember to prioritize your health and safety.
- Bring a friend. Face-to-face conversations are important, and they can also feel intimidating. Having a friendly face beside you can be the confidence boost you need to get excited about talking with potential voters!
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Write postcards
“Postcarding” is a simple and effective way to increase voter turnout in elections. You can write postcards anywhere—at your home, in the school pick-up line (while parked!), or with friends at a coffee shop or happy hour.
All you need is a pen, postcards, stamps, and some enthusiasm! Postcard writing is an excellent way to reach voters, even when you only have a few minutes. Every postcard sent is a potential voter reached!
You’ll get materials and a sample message when you RSVP and attend an event on Gun Sense Voter.
Does getting out the vote really make a difference?
Yes.
Research varies on how much of a difference voter outreach methods like phonebanking or canvassing make. But what we do know is that those efforts make a difference.
Not convinced?
In 2017, the winner of a Virginia House of Delegates race came down to drawing lots. A recount gave one candidate a one-vote margin of victory (11,068 votes to 11,067). But after a panel of judges “decided that mismarked ballot that had originally been discarded” should be counted toward the other candidate, the votes were tied. So how did they decide a winner? By picking a candidate’s name out of a bowl.
Some other close races in recent years:
- 2015: A seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives was decided by five ballots.
- 2020: The election for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District was as close as six votes.
- 2022: The Arizona Attorney General race was decided by 280 votes.
- 2023: A race for Louisiana Sheriff was as close as one vote (and required two runoff elections to determine the winner).
Not all races will be decided by such a narrow margin. But in every election, every vote counts. The conversation you have or the postcard you send could be the difference between someone sitting on the sidelines—or showing up and changing the outcome of the election.
The stakes are high
Getting out the vote for races up and down the ballot helps elect Gun Sense Candidates. When Gun Sense Candidates are elected into office, they pass common-sense gun safety legislation and use their platform to change the conversation about gun violence.
We need leaders who will keep our kids, communities, and country safe from gun violence. And every conversation, postcard, and action taken helps make that a reality.
Mark your calendars to join us for a Weekend of Action and help Get Out The Vote for gun safety!
Keep up the action
Our 2024 Weekends of Action are Sept. 13–15 and Oct. 18–20.
But remember: the actions don’t end when the weekends do! Click here to download the Demand Action app to get daily actions you can take leading up to Nov. 5th.