Reaching Friends in Swing States

Swing states determine who will become president—they are the only states where the vote for president and Senate are expected to be close.

You can change the election by contacting your friends and associates in these states using social media and urging them to vote for Democrat Party candidates. [link progressive candidates to page of candidates/voting guide]

Swing States for President

Arizona
Georgia
Michigan
Nevada
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Wisconsin

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3 Easy Steps to Reach Friends in Swing States

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Follow these 3 steps on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter/X, or wherever you have the most contacts.
(To learn more about why it’s so important to contact them, visit this page.)

Step 1  Choose your favorite social media platform and find out which friends live in swing states.

Use the main search window to type in the name of a swing state, and you should see a list of your existing contacts who live in that state. For Facebook, you can also type in “My friends who live in [insert name of swing state].”

You’ll be surprised how many friends you have in swing states!

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Step 2  Check out their profile and send them a direct message.
I recommend taking a few moments to feel a connection with them. Even if they are a friend of a friend, that is still a heart connection to your larger community. Focus on the idea that you’re engaging with them and offering them something, not trying to sell them something. 

(I also recommend skipping people who post things that contradict your values, or people who have not posted for many months.)

Here is an example that I sent to friends in North Carolina:

“[Younger name, gender-neutral?], We have not had much contact here, but the urgency of the election is pushing me to reach outside of my normal comfort zone. I am in Portland with time and resources, but since Portland votes majority Democrat, my vote for President and Senate won’t be as important to the election as yours is in North Carolina. Democrats in swing states like yours have the power to change the national election results, and I know things are getting crazy there with all the different political messages. I'm writing to offer you my support and ask if there’s any way I can help you and your friends vote?”

Step 3  Respond back when they reply. 
We find that over half of the folks we contact respond, most pretty quickly. If their response is short, I give a simple response of gratitude and leave it there. If they have taken the time to write a couple paragraphs, as most have done, I keep the interaction going. 

This is your chance to engage with them and encourage them to vote. Here are some examples of how:

• Some have told me they are working on the election; I give an enthusiastic appreciation.

• I might send a Circle Voting link that is appropriate to the conversation—for example, registration deadlines [insert link here]. If they are as enthusiastic as you and want to participate in Circle Voting, you can also sent them a link to this page!

• Others tell me they are voting; I thank them and often ask how they plan to vote (mail, polling place, etc.). Having a plan in place is a big step toward actually voting.

• If they indicate a reluctance to vote, I try to engage them further, acknowledging how dysfunctional the system. Here is a list you can use to explain some of the Compelling Reasons To Vote.

And don’t forget…

The final step is to enjoy the pleasure that comes from contacting friends, making new ones, and doing something with all this worry and pent-up energy.
I can’t emphasize this enough. It really feels great to receive responses of appreciation from my friends and to make a difference. And know that even if they are planning to vote, your contact will increase the probability of it happening.

Remember that your very act of contacting them, and taking a risk on social media, is  giving them the message that we are all connected and voting for each other. This will have a ripple effect as they interact with friends in their own state.

Let us know [link to contact page] of your own modifications and experiences contacting your friends.

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