Old technology is newest tool to energize voters

Reported by Janelle Hartman and Stephanie Witt Sedgwick:

Postcards may be old technology, but they are being revived as an effective tool in the arsenal of Fairfax County Democrats to get a robust turnout at elections on November 6th.

Numerous postcard parties have been held in Fairfax County throughout the campaign season to target registered voters with personal appeals from writers urging recipients to come to the polls and vote for Democrats. The total number of postcards from area volunteers flooding the US Postal Service is unknown, but estimated at tens of thousands.

The cards are all hand written and addressed. There’s no set script, but each reminds voters of the date of election and the Democratic candidates in their district and urges the voter to have their voice heard on election day.

As volunteer Eileen Shropshire wrote, “It took me longer to write this card than it will take you to vote. Your vote matters!”

Two recent postcard parties with big turnouts:

On Sunday, Oct. 21, more than 30 volunteers from Lee District Democratic Committee  turned the back room of Fiona’s Irish Pub in Alexandria into a postcard writing factory — filling more than 1,000 postcards with personal appeals to voters who cast ballots in 2016 but skipped last year’s state election. Even Fairfax County Supervisor Jeff McKay and School Board Member Ilryong Moon squeezed into crowded tables to help.

A few days later, on Thursday morning, Oct. 25, more than two dozen volunteers filled the Whole Food Vienna café area (see image at top) to complete a three-month program organized by Vienna Neighbors United that has resulted in almost 10,000 postcards urging Virginia voters to go to the polls on November 6 and vote for the Democratic candidates in their districts.

More from The Blue View

It’s Time to Take a Stand and Get Out the Vote!

So here we are, in the final days of the 2018 election year. This is where all the work we’ve done all year makes a difference. We’ve spent months getting out there, knocking doors, making calls, reaching out to friends and neighbors to identify the voters we need to get to the polls on November 6th. Now it’s time to make sure they vote.

Pundits and polls have been suggesting all summer that it’s going to be a big year for Democrats, but those words and numbers aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on if we don’t turn people out to vote. There is only one poll that matters, and it closes on November 6, 2018.

So now it’s time to Get Out the Vote, or “GOTV.” This is where we reach out to voters and our message focuses on voting (e.g. “Your polling place is Fox Mill Elementary School. Do you have a plan to go there and vote for Tim Kaine and Jennifer Wexton on November 6?”). We’ve spent the summer identifying the folks we need to mobilize, and now it’s time to mobilize them.

Like anything else, if you want to do GOTV well, you need to practice. So the final two weekends of October, we do “dry runs” to make sure everything is working perfectly for the final days before election day. The dry runs will be the weekends of October 20-21 and October 27-28. The final GOTV efforts will take place on November 3rd, 4th, 5th, and of course, the 6th (election day).

It all comes down to this, so we are asking you to sign up for two or more shifts doing dry runs or GOTV. You can sign up at this link.Click to sign up for GOTVIf you have questions, reach out to our field organizer Maddy White at maddy.white@virginiavictory.org. It’s time to stand up for women, children, and ALL of our communities. It is time we take a stand. This is your opportunity to get out there and set Virginia and the entire nation on a better path.

Next Hunter Mill Democrats Meeting, Wednesday October 10, 2018

The October meeting of the Hunter Mill Democrats will take place on Wednesday, October 10 at 7:30pm at Louise Archer Elementary School, 324 Nutley St. NW, Vienna, VA 22180. This will be the last Hunter Mill meeting before election day, so come and learn what you can do to help build the Blue Wave!

All are welcome to arrive at 7pm to meet one another and members of the executive board before the meeting begins at 7:30pm.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, October 10!

Volunteers Needed for Vienna Oktoberfest on October 6th

The Hunter Mill District Democratic Committee will have a table at this year’s Oktoberfest in Vienna. This will be a great opportunity to connect with the community and engage with those who may need an extra push to go to the polls on November 6th.

But we need YOUR help! Can you work a shift or two to make sure our table is properly staffed? Event details are below:

When: October 6, 2018
Where: Church Street, Vienna
Shifts Available: 7:30 AM – 8 PM

Click here to sign up for a volunteer shift.

Please contact huntermilldems@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you next week!

Early voting and volunteer opportunities

Hunter Mill District Democratic Committees will be staffing Outside Poll Tables at Early Voting (In-Person Absentee) for the November 6th General Election.

Volunteers will hand out sample ballots and provide voter assistance at a table outside of the voting location.

Early Voting Dates and Locations Here: https://fairfaxdemocrats.org/blog/2018/07/18/vote-early-2018/

Complete information about Absentee Voting can be found at: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/absentee

including the 20 valid reasons to vote absentee in-person.

Fairfax County Government Center (FCGC):

Please refer to the Sign-Up Genius Form to see where you can participate at FCGC.

Find the date/time that Hunter Mill District has an open slot and sign-up. Each district is responsible for four days each.

FCGC Link: https://twitter.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5d6b8f00ef3c7192dc26622ef&id=fd3ea3b9b9&e=a4bdb4c3b1

North County Government Center (NCGC):

1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston (across from the Reston Regional Library)

Dates and Times:

Saturdays: Oct. 13th, 20th, 27th, and Nov. 3rd: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Beginning Oct. 15th thru Nov. 2nd: – Mon. thru Fri., 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

To sign-up for a shift at the North County Government Center, please contact: Phil Haber at philhaber@verizon.net / 703-963-5680 or Joanne Collins at collinsjoanne@yahoo.com / 585-703-1121.

Make plans to attend the FCDC meeting on September 25

At the August Hunter Mill Democrats monthly meeting, the Hunter Mill Democrats voted unanimously to affirm our support for the Dranesville Democrats and their candidate endorsement process for Herndon Town Council. If you are a member of the Hunter Mill Democrats (dues paid or dues waiver signed), please make plans to attend the next FCDC General Membership Meeting on September 25 at James Madison High School in Vienna at 7:30pm.

2500 James Madison Dr,
Vienna, VA 22181

It’s important for us to be present at this meeting so that the full Fairfax Democrats membership can reach the quorum requirement and consider the Dranesville District Democratic Committee’s endorsement recommendation for Herndon Town Council. As a Hunter Mill Democrat, you have a vote at this meeting, but you must be present! If you have any questions, please email the Hunter Mill Co-Chairs at huntermilldems@gmail.com

Hunter Mill Meeting on Wednesday, September 12, 2018

The September meeting of the Hunter Mill Democrats will take place on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 7:30pm at the North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Dr, Reston, VA 20190.

Delegate Ken Plum will be a special guest speaker.

All are welcome to arrive at 7pm to meet one another and members of the executive board before the meeting begins at 7:30pm.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Come Canvass Saturday with Anne Holton!

This Saturday, August 18 starting at 1pm, the Virginia Coordinated Campaign will be launching Hunter Mill door-knocking efforts from the new coordinated campaign office at

150 Elden St., Suite 244, Herndon, VA

We anticipate that Anne Holton, former Virginia Education Secretary, will join us in our efforts to reach voters.

The Coordinated Campaign has been hosting canvass events every Saturday, so if you’ve been participating in those, note the change in time and location. If you haven’t had the chance to get out there yet, this is a great time to join up and help us elect Tim Kaine to the Senate, Jennifer Wexton to the 10th House District, and Gerry Connolly to the 11th House District.

For more information, contact

Maddy White, at maddy.white@virginiavictory.org or 571.299.9490

Sign-Up for Back to School Night

Summer is quickly coming to an end and Hunter Mill is gearing up for Back to School Nights at 21 schools from August 23 to September 26.  BTSN is a great opportunity for us to reach parents of school age children in our community to let them know about the November elections and the candidates.

Please consider signing up for one (or more) of our Back to School Nights through our Sign-up Genius link BTSN Hunter Mill 2018.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Christine Rohrer at christinefrohrer@gmail.com or 703.598.4918

College students need to apply for absentee ballot

The author’s son Ben, preparing to return to college

By Stephanie Witt Sedgwick, from The Blue View

If it’s August, it’s time to start getting ready to send your college student back to school.

The No. 1 item on the To Do List: Have them apply for an absentee ballot or register to vote ASAP and wait a week or two until they are registered and then have them apply.

It’s fast. It’s easy.

Go to: Register to Vote and Apply for Absentee Ballots

Documents: Your student will need their social security number and driver’s license number

Reason for applying to vote absentee: Student attending college or university outside of locality of residence.

Address: Your student can receive their ballot at their home address or college address.

Plans change. Don’t count on your student coming home to vote or voting in person absentee during fall break.