Voter Services during the Covid 19 Pandemic of 2020
What began as a normal year for holding voter registration drives quickly turned into a year for being creative about how to offer voter registration without having face to face conversations with eligible and future voters or being part of large group gatherings. Before the indoor Troy Waterfront Farmers Market shut down, we were able to provide a table with voter information and volunteers to answer questions and provide registration forms to eligible people shopping at this market. In February were able to attend the Naturalization ceremony held at the Doane Stuart School and offer voter registration to new citizens and eligible students. In March both the LWVRC and the LWVNYS were able to visit classes at Schodack Central Schools High School and provided information about voting in NYS as well as opportunities for eligible students to register and preregister to vote. In October we were able to meet virtually with Emma Willard students and discuss voting legislation both approved and awaiting approval as well as the history of the 19th Amendment in this country. We remained in contact with the voluntary agencies and local colleges even while we were not able to meet in person and were able to develop strategies to offer voter registration and voting education materials in new ways. We provided packets of forms and voting information sheets to Unity House, Rensselaer County CEO, Troy Housing Authority, Monument Square Apartments, TAP, TRIP, Justice for Dahmeek, Rensselaer County Public Libraries, Oakwood Pantry, and the Oakwood Neighborhood Group. We were able to participate in socially distanced/masks required events with the Sanctuary for Independent Media, Stewart’s and Unity House by the fall. We publicized these events in the Advertiser which reaches many rural areas in the county. Knowing that getting people registered is only the first step to being able to vote, we also focused on how to get people to the polls. LWVRC has continued to be part of a collaboration of local voluntary agencies, schools and political representatives advocating for a downtown Troy early voting site. We also joined with the Albany, Schenectady and Saratoga Leagues to apply for money to pay for ads on CDTA buses that encourage all to vote and to use Vote411.org to answer questions about individual registration status and voting information. We also worked with a group of Troy based ministries, civil rights groups and interested Troy citizens to develop a free bus service from Troy to early voting sites in the county. This became "Souls to the Polls." And finally we were able to interest 32 individuals from our membership and interest group to purchase Vote! lawn signs. Even though this year had less tabling and person to person outreach, the only way we were able to do as much as we did was because of our loyal, valuable volunteers. Thank you all!! - Shirley Buel