WE ARE NOT GIVING UP.
We did not send Harris and Walz to the White House, but we did tremendous work on electing Democrats up and down the ballot here in Nebraska. It’s time now, to find out who we can count on to have our backs, and make sure that we have the backs of our like-minded neighbors. The Block Captain program is about building relationships and finding community. Don’t live the next 4 years thinking you are a lone blue dot in a sea of red. As a Block Captain you can meet neighbors and find your people near you.
Sobre el programa Captain Block:
Servir como Capitán de Cuadra significa que usted es responsable de conectarse con 50 votantes en su vecindario para elegir a los Demócratas en todas partes de la boleta electoral. Adaptamos el modelo para Capitanes Rurales, Capitanes de Apartamento y Capitanes de Dorm.
Estamos listos para recuperar todos los niveles de gobierno para la gente, ¡desde los consejos municipales y las juntas escolares hasta la Legislatura y el Congreso!
La mejor manera de elegir demócratas es a nivel personal en las puertas con conversaciones sobre cómo votar y los temas que nos preocupan.
Debemos comunicar nuestros valores. Sabemos que la regla actual de un solo partido a nivel estatal es mala para la democracia. Los capitanes de bloque construyen relaciones con sus vecinos y se convierten en el punto de contacto cuando tienen preguntas o necesitan ayuda en época de elecciones.
Está claro que el Partido Republicano ahora es tan extremista que ha perdido por completo lo que significa servir y poner a las personas primero. Ya sea la insurrección violenta, la separación de niños y familias, permitir que las corporaciones gigantes contaminen la tierra, el agua y el aire, quitar los derechos reproductivos, cerrar el gobierno y dar la mayor limosna del gobierno en décadas a millonarios y multimillonarios mientras fingen que son dar recortes de impuestos a nuestras familias o recortar el seguro médico y los cupones de alimentos para las familias trabajadoras. El Partido Republicano es ahora el partido de la media y estamos listos para recuperar nuestro estado.
Ahora tenemos más de 750 capitanes de bloque. Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre el programa, envíe un correo electrónico a gina@nebraskademocrats.org
Materiales:
Tenemos todo lo que necesita para servir como capitán de bloque. Le damos el "territorio", un nombre elegante para la lista de 50 casas en su comunidad donde usted es responsable de hablar con los votantes. Lo capacitamos con videos en línea que puede ver cuando sea mejor para usted o con capacitaciones en persona a las que puede asistir.
Estos son algunos de nuestros recursos para Block Captains:
2025 Training Schedule:
We conduct trainings via Zoom in order to prepare Block Captains all across the state. We can also host training sessions for county parties and other groups, just contact Gina Frank.
Los capitanes de bloque deben estar atentos a los correos electrónicos de Gina que incluyen la información de contacto de sus votantes e instrucciones específicas para cada ronda de contacto con los votantes.
Feb-March- Lincoln and Omaha will deliver vote-by-mail applications to your 50 contacts. Greater Nebraska will join their county party for a community-building activity and/or send postcards to your 50 contacts to stay on contact! The training will be on February 10.
July-August- We will talk to our neighbors about what is important to them and what they would like to see happen or what help they need. This will be in the form of a survey using minivan which will help the county and state parties as well as candidates staying in touch with voters ideas and concerns. The training will be on 26 de junio.
September-November- A Block Captain favorite, we will bring the Dems Deliver paper to our 50 contacts! The training will be on September 8.
CANVASSING TIPS:
DOOR-TO-DOOR CONVERSATIONS WIN ELECTIONS Face-to-face conversations are the most effective way to turn out voters for Democrats. The Block Captain program is how we win elections at the grassroots level. Talking with voters is a skill you will practice and develop over time. It is a bit of an art and a science. Most of all try to remember how you would want to be approached.
KEY REMINDERS:
1. Be yourself.
2. Listen attentively and with care.
3. If you don’t know the answer, be honest and say you can find out and get back to them.
4. Stay positive.
5. On average, you can knock 20 doors per hour. Usually, you talk to about 6 people in that hour because not everyone will be home.
6. Wear a Democratic shirt or button so voters do not think you are selling something.
YOUR CHECKLIST BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR
As a Block Captain, you need a few things to get started as you canvass your neighbors. Grab a good clipboard and tote bag to hold these critical items:
At least two pens
The list of your 50 households
Canvass tips and reminders
A bundle of newspapers
Post-it notes (a great way to leave a handwritten note)
Water bottle, stay hydrated!
Comfortable shoes and a button or Democratic t-shirt so voters know you are not selling something!
DO THESE THINGS AT THE DOOR:
Talk to all 50 households on your list. These are the voters and neighbors you are now responsible for registering, educating and getting to the polls.
Look around before you knock. See if there is anything relatable you can use in the door conversation. A bumper sticker of a group you know, a great garden, nice yard, kids toys, etc. People are proud of their homes, saying something nice opens up the conversation.
Be friendly, but get firm commitments. If someone tells you they support Democrats, be sure to ask them to commit to vote. If they commit to vote, ask them to volunteer. And if someone is argumentative, politely end the conversation.
Use the script, but put it in your voice. The canvass script is a basic guide for your conversations. Be sure to use your personal story to explain why you’re supporting Democrats up and down the ballot. That’s the best way to build a meaningful connection with voters.
Smile and have fun! Voters will respond to your enthusiasm and your energy.
Shake the fence before you enter a gate. If you shake it, this will usually wake a dog up so you know if it’s safe to enter. Some experienced canvassers carry a few dog treats in their pocket for the dog lover vote :)
Leave a note behind. If the voter is not home, write a quick note with your name signed. Leave the literature with your note somewhere the voter can see it (you can roll it up and stick it between storm door and main door for example)—but never put it in or on their mailbox.
Follow up. If you don’t know the answer to a question DON’T MAKE UP THE ANSWER, instead tell the voter “that is a good question, I will get back to you.” Then either send them a note in the mail, drop by the house or leave them a voicemail with the answer. Just email me gina@nebraskademocrats.org and I will help get you the answer.
DON’T DO THESE THINGS AT THE DOOR:
Don’t go inside a house. Safety first. If you’re invited into a home, politely decline.
Don’t go inside a gate that has a “beware of dog.” This is a good sign to simply leave a note rolled up in the fence and call this voter instead!
Don’t put literature in the mailbox. Leave literature in the door or under the mat. It is illegal to insert material in someone’s mailbox.
Don’t be rude to anyone. Remember, you represent the Democratic Party. If a voter does not agree with us, that is ok.
Don’t get into an argument. Never get in an argument. If someone disagrees with the Democratic Party or a candidate, offer to take their information and share it with the candidate.
Don’t speak negatively of other points of view or people. We can and do stand up, but we are not rude. As Michelle Obama says, “When they go low, we go high.”
Thank you for canvassing!
Mira los entrenamientos anteriores del capitán de bloque:
2018
Capacitación de Capitán de Bloque para la Elección Primaria y Conceptos básicos del Programa de Capitán de Bloque
Cómo usar tu guión en la puerta
Cómo usar la VAN como Capitán de bloque
2019
Our first 2019 Block Captain training focused on getting everyone back in the swing of things
Knocking on doors and preparing for Lincoln’s Primary/General Elections (including info for non-Lincoln Block Captains)
Mirando hacia 2020, Encuesta de problemas en las puertas
2020
Ser un capitán de bloque durante el coronavirus
MiniVan y VBM
Video no disponible: Preparándose para GOTV y guías para votantes
2021
Registro, registro de VBM y recordatorios
Manos a la obra para Omaha y Lincoln
¿Cuál es la posición de los demócratas de Nebraska? Encuesta de problemas
2022
Vota en las Primarias
Prepárese para votar por correo
Exámenes parciales GOTV (Get Out The Vote)
2023
Manos a la obra para Lincoln
Los demócratas entregan el periódico
2024
Issues Survey and Vote-by-Mail
Los demócratas entregan el periódico
Voter Guide