8 Ways to Help Local Candidates You Believe In
Multiply your voting power by helping candidates and campaigns.
Voting on October 3 is important, but if you’re looking to have the largest impact possible on the election, consider helping candidates ahead of time, too.
We can build the kind of community we want, but we have to do it together. Working with a campaign is an extremely effective way to make change.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of ways you can get involved.
You can find contact info for all the campaigns in our community here. A simple email saying you’d like to help goes a long way.
Volunteer: Dedicate your time and skills to a candidate's campaign. You could assist with a wide variety of tasks like delivering yard signs, phone banking, managing social media, simple data entry, and more! There are many, many tasks associated with running an effective campaign, both “big” and “small”: your active involvement makes a difference.
Not comfortable phone banking, or doing another specific task? That’s okay! There are so many things that need to be done that most campaigns will work with you to find something that matches your skillset.
Donate: Contribute financially to the campaign, regardless of the amount. Your donations contribute to essential campaign resources, enabling a candidate to reach more voters and more effectively communicate their vision.
The reality is that running for political office, even on the scale of something like Borough Assembly or School Board, takes a significant amount of money. Radio time, yard signs, mailers, buttons and pins: it all adds up to many thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.
A financial contribution, though not an option for everyone, is seen as a serious endorsement by many. Any amount helps.
Write Letters to the Editor: Craft letters or opinion pieces for the Daily News Miner that express your support for a candidate and their platform. Publicly sharing your endorsement can influence undecided voters and increase campaign visibility.
Here are examples from Alex, Eric, Kate, Shaun, Mindy, Kristan, Betsy, Cathy, Martha, Ashley, and John D and Linda S that I was lucky enough to receive last year.
You don’t need to be any sort of “big wig” to write a letter in support of someone. As a resident of our community, your voice makes a big difference!
Spread the Word: Leverage your social media platforms and personal connections to amplify a candidate's message. Share campaign updates, endorsements, and informative content to engage a wider audience and foster support.
Even if you don’t work with a campaign directly, sharing posts and messaging from a candidate is very effective, especially on platforms where they are less visible already.
Door Knocking: Engage your neighbors by going door-to-door to introduce the candidate and distribute campaign materials. If you live in a dense neighborhood like Downtown or University West, ask a candidate to come walk with you or go by yourself with their materials.
Personal interactions can leave a lasting impression, encourage residents to learn more about the candidate's platform, and will keep them front of mind on October 3.
Many candidates benefit from having a driver when they go door knocking, if you’d like to help with this but are less sure about the face-to-face interaction.
Canvas Local Events: Attend community gatherings, the farmers market, and local events with campaign materials in hand. Engaging with attendees and discussing the candidate's platform can help sway opinions and secure additional support.
Encourage Voting: Play an active role in increasing voter turnout by reminding friends, family, and neighbors about the election coming up on October 3. Offer assistance with voter registration and help individuals navigate the voting process.
Let people know of their options: absentee, early, and in-person voting are all valid options in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
Coordinate Carpooling: Organize transportation for voters on Election Day, ensuring everyone has access to the polls. Removing logistical barriers can have a positive impact on voter participation and contribute to the campaign's success.
If you want to help in these or other ways, consider reaching out to a candidate or two whose values resonate with yours. You can find contact information for all local candidates here.
If you have other ways you think of to help or have any questions, please let me know in the comments below!