Nelson County Canvassing Update

Dear Nelson County Democrats and Supporters:

Just a quick update on canvassing in Nelson County:

•        As we know, statewide campaigns do not send people from other places to canvass in rural areas like ours. It’s up to us to get the job done.

•        Between 4 and 8 canvassers have been out each Sunday for the past six weeks.

•        We have been to Shipman, Lovingston, Schuyler, Nellysford, Afton, and then to Nellysford/Afton again.

•        During the first 5 weeks, we were in the “Persuasion Phase” and were able to query many of the “new voters” in the county about their concerns. (FYI, there have been over 2000 people who have registered to vote in Nelson since 2020 about whom we know very little). The data we collected during this time period helped us to know them a little better and to shape the current messages from the campaign.

•        We know voter turnout among Strong and Leaning Dems in Nelson was down almost 2% in the last election as compared to the previous presidential election. I’m sure there were a number of reasons for this decline, but we know that we did not canvass last year, and I believe that was a contributing factor.

•        Last Sunday, the canvass focus switched from the Persuasion to the Get Out the Vote, so we are now talking primarily to Strong and Leaning Dems and reminding them to vote. The earlier the better.

 It’s now a lot easier to canvass. I actually received a very sincere thank you from one of last Sunday’s canvassers. He said he “really needed that list” because it was a chance to talk to people who gave him hope.

 So, if you have not yet signed up to canvass, please do so. There is still time to make a difference. Here’s the link. And of course, a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has already been out to canvass. Please come again.

If you want to know more about canvassing, please send a message to info@bluenelson.org, and I will reach out to you with more information.

  As of midday on Friday our early voting numbers were as follows:

  • Total — 467

  • Strong and Leaning Dems - 294

  • Strong and Leaning Republicans - 127

  • Unknown- 27

  • Independents - 19

Lynn Fontana

 

NewsLynn Fontana