|
MY RELATIONSHIP WITH CANVASSING
I hate canvassing.
Every time I head out, I need to remind myself why it’s important. There's always that flood of uncertainties as I approach the unknown of each door. Yet, deep down, I know canvassing is one of the most meaningful things we can do. It's where all the values we stand for, the things we talk about and believe in, are brought to life in a way that truly matters.
The first knock is always the hardest. Is this the right house? Will they be kind? Will I remember everything I need to say? I knock, then take a step back, tightly gripping the literature.
Sometimes, there’s this quiet relief when no one answers. But then someone does open the door, smiles, and proudly says they are voting EARLY for Kamala. Suddenly, I am energized and eager to approach the next house on my list.
I’ve knocked on many doors in my years of canvassing —ones with beautifully ornate handles, others with windows boarded up, and some barely hanging on their hinges. I’ve canvassed under the relentless Vegas sun and trudged through snowbanks in Iowa’s farmland. I feel like the voting traveling preacher, carrying the message of democracy wherever I go.
The moments that truly stick with me are the ones I’ve shared with my family. Walking through neighborhoods with my niece in Florida and my son in Iowa; neither was old enough to vote at that time. Those days were about more than just getting out the vote. It was about showing them a side of America far beyond what they knew and encouraging them to be part of something bigger than themselves.
There are tough moments, too. Doors get slammed. People are rude. But then, there are the surprises—like the person who handed me an umbrella during a downpour. Then there was the woman who chased me down the street just to give me her vile article on late-term abortions and politely thanked me for being involved in the process. I still think about the woman who barely cracked her door open, with her young children gathered around her, TV blaring, whispering that she would try and vote.
Last weekend, I talked with an undecided voter who is a high school social studies teacher. Our conversation wasn’t just about politics or persuasion but about connecting and listening. I’m pretty sure he’ll vote for Kamala.
For him and for all the others I’ve spoken to along the way, it’s never been only about the vote. It’s about showing up. It’s about saying, "I care,” and that you are important to our future and democracy.
I love canvassing.
Join JAC for canvassing in Wisconsin on Sunday, October 27th, Saturday, November 2nd, and Sunday, November 3rd. Sign up here or email info@jacpac.org for more information.
If you don’t live in the Chicago area, click here for canvassing opportunities near you.
| 
