I don’t talk politics often, which surprises many of the people I know. I don’t believe I am going to change anyone’s mind about what they believe, or for whom they will vote. Unfortunately, this is the world we inhabit at the moment.
I do believe that I can influence someone’s voting behavior, however. If a person is not registered to vote, I can perhaps convince them to register. If they want or need a mail-in ballot, I can help procure an application for this. If a person has a quality of life issue, I can help get the proper assistance. And if someone who is a registered Democrat is on the fence about voting, I can urge them to vote.
While I don’t have numbers on this, I believe that I have a lot of influence over my friends and neighbors when it comes to getting them to the polls. I can remind them how important voting is. By being of service to a friend or neighbor, I can demonstrate that our government works well if you are educated about the various government offices, and how they work.
If you become a volunteer, I would never expect you to try to change someone’s mind. I do not believe it is possible. I do think, however, that you can have a huge influence on people who already think like you do. And in a close election, it may make all the difference.