In an anonymous, working class neighborhood on the east side of Columbus, Ohio, there's a small, unassuming house, which looks just like the rest of the houses nearby. But appearances can be deceiving. This house is different from other houses because inside this house a team of superheroes works tirelessly to save the world from the forces of evil. Follow me inside to learn more about these superheroes and what they are doing to keep us safe.
Midway through my trip to OH, my friend and fellow kossack jmknapp forwarded me this diary about a group called “Vote From Home”. I read their website, spoke with co-founder Ross Baird, and learned that this group was doing something very special.
The Vote From Home folks (hereafter referred to as “VFH”) are a close knit team of college and graduate students and young professionals. Some are co-founders or leaders of non-profits and service organizations. Some helped rebuild New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Many are Ivy League grads who have forestalled education or career plans in order to be part of this effort. They follow directly in the footsteps of Barack Obama, who, after graduating from Harvard Law School, traded lucrative job opportunities for a chance to serve the community on the South Side of Chicago.
So what does VFH do? In a nutshell, they help Columbus residents vote. Since early August they've helped over 10,000 people register, request an absentee ballot or vote early. That's a truly astounding number for a small, self-directed, ad hoc group of friends. How do they do it?
- VFH developed their own color coded map highlighting neighborhoods with the highest density of untapped democratic voters, which enables them to focus their efforts in the most productive areas of the city.
- VFH has developed custom software, enabling them to monitor their voters over time. They can tell whether (and when) a given voter has registered, received an absentee ballot, returned an absentee ballot, etc. This also allows them to follow up with voters throughout the weeks leading up to Election Day.
- VFH uses iPhones as a real time canvassing tool. In response to the common refrain “I’m already registered”, the canvasser can reply with “would you like me to verify that for you?”. A quick search at the doorstep often reveals a missing registration or the need for an address change. A successful search provides the voter with a comforting confirmation.
- VFH sets up free barbecues in some of the poorest neighborhoods in Columbus, which accomplishes two things: it provides a free meal for some folks who can use a break and it attracts a lot of attention and traffic, which boosts their voter registration efforts.
- VFH has a fleet of specially marked “voter taxis”. They will, for the asking and at a moment’s notice, provide a free round trip to the early voting site (and on election day, to the polls).
These folks have come up with a system that works and their results speak for themselves. They don't wear capes, they can't fly and they may not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but in my book these guys are real, live superheroes:
I spent the third of my three weeks in Ohio working with this crew and it was very inspiring and a lot of fun. They welcomed me into their family with open arms and for that I am grateful. Here I am (left to right) with a new early voter and my new friend, and superhero, Jenn: