This is a chance to learn more about your friends and discover your potential to bring out more voters in your social circle. Here are suggestions on how to talk with a friend about our habits and attitudes toward voting.
General Attitude
Focus on the heart connection with your friend. Use this opportunity as a time to explore both of your attitudes, not to recruit or get into an argument.
Make sure you talk to friends you don’t usually talk to about politics.
Approach the subject in a gentle manner. Some may want to protect their privacy. Others feel conflicted about voting; many don’t vote but think they should. In fact, over a quarter of nonvoters tell survey interviewers that they did vote.
Avoid projecting the sense that “everyone should vote.” It can limit the dialogue. But if this is a strong belief for you, just be upfront about it as your opinion.
Ways to Bring Up the Topic
We suggest bringing up the topic in a casual way at first, when appropriate. Here’s some info highlighting that some people don’t vote. In your talk with your friend, you can mention one of these factoids and ask why they think this is the case or if they know people who don’t vote
How to Get More Personal
Talk about yourself, e.g., “My family always voted, so I picked up the habit, but I know that doesn’t happen for everyone. What did your family think about voting?.”
Ask them how they feel about voting. “How about you? Do you like voting?”
Be understanding: “I know it can be a hassle, but what’s your voting experience been?”
Bring up registration: “I just checked my registration. Can I help you check yours, too?” Note you can do that here. You could also mention that if they’ve moved, they have to re-register.
What You May Have Learned
If they vote regularly, they could be an ally as the election approaches.
If they’ve made comments like “I don’t like politics or the candidates” or “My vote doesn’t matter,” you can check out our “Why Should You Vote?” page for ideas for future discussions.
If they say, “I don’t usually vote, but I will this time,” it’s a good idea to follow up with them to see if they need help registering so they can vote.
If they’re not a regular voter, you could offer to help with registration or to get a mail-in ballot.
These conversations may teach you about your own discomfort talking about the subject. Our discomfort keeps us connecting with friends and accessing the collective power of voting.
Want to take it to the next step?
Click here to read about how to use social media to reach your friends in swing states!
Thoughts? Suggestions? We’d love to hear how YOU talk to your friends about voting!