The day was perfect. Quintessential Floridian winter. Azure sky. Warm breeze that wouldn’t break a bough. Mid 70’s. Perfect.
I finally got up the nerve to get out of my car and ring the first doorbell. I’d been sitting there feeling uncomfortable about walking up to a complete stranger’s house. My hands weren’t exactly sweaty. Well… they sort of were. My legs felt a little jittery. I couldn’t believe how apprehensive I was. Why did I say I would canvass my neighborhood? It was so odd to be nervous. I’ve led teams. I’ve presented in front of hundreds of people at conferences. I’ve consulted with strangers in the arts world all over the country and in Europe. Here, though, walking up to a stranger who might see me again in the neighborhood was scaring the living daylights out of me.
The goal was to inform people in my precinct about the statewide mail ballot cancellation that had flown under the radar and about which most people were unaware. It was the right and necessary action to take to build a blue Brevard. I walked up the driveway secretly hoping that no one would answer, that I could leave a flyer and move on to the next house where, if the fates were with me, no one would be home there either. No such luck. The gentleman opened the door and said hello. After initially stumbling over a few words, I found my groove and informed him all about the cancellation of mail ballots and the need to re-request one. He had no idea the DeSantis’s brute squad in Tallahassee had fallen in line and passed this new law. He didn’t want to fill out a form; said he would do it online. He was smiling as he thanked me for taking the time to let him know. I said perhaps I’d be around again as other things come up. “Cool,” he said and closed the door.
“Well, that wasn’t so bad,” I thought as I moved on to the next house. No answer. I was slightly relieved and yet also a bit disappointed. Next house. No Answer. An 84 year-old woman answered at the third house. I introduced myself without stumbling and easily explained why I was there on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. She, too, was unaware of the mail ballot situation and after a few minutes offhandedly remarked that she liked DeSantis; she thought he was doing a good job. That definitely took me by surprise. Hoping my face didn’t betray my disbelief, I immediately engaged her in an unplanned dialogue about different policies and laws DeSantis had put into place: the ballot thing, don’t say gay law, the removal of all A.P. classes beginning with African American history, and permit-less carry. She knew none of it. She was surprised and disappointed and said I gave her a lot to think about. She wouldn’t complete the form and indicated that she’d probably start voting in person. I don’t know if I changed how she thought about the fascism-curious DeSantis but at least she knew more than she did before my visit.
The next two houses were much easier. Another woman didn’t know about the ballot cancellation. She listened politely, declined filling out a form but thanked me for making the effort to let her know.
At the last house the man was in his garage and saw me coming. I spent about 30 minutes with him as we discussed how DeSantis is dehumanizing so many different groups of people and how he uses fear to push through his authoritarian agenda. This gentleman filled out a form to request his mail ballot. As we shook hands I asked if he would mind me stopping by in the future to keep him up to date with the GOP machinations. “Yes, that would be just fine.” I said goodbye with a nod of appreciation and walked back down the driveway with a smile.
It was time for me to head home. Six houses. Four meaningful contacts. Ninety minutes of my time. What began with discomfort ended with great satisfaction. I had challenged myself to step outside my comfort zone and I was rewarded with feeling that just perhaps I had made a difference, however small.
There are a ton of people to meet and inform in all of our neighborhoods. Canvassing is one of the most important actions we can take. It creates a stronger, more knowledgeable community. Dialogues at our neighbors’ doors give our fellow Democrats, who may not be as engaged as we are, information that perhaps may make it easier for them to have dialogues of their own with others we may never reach. I know it isn’t easy to canvass. I had to ‘stick my courage’ and walk up that first driveway. Once I did though, I finally understood the importance and impact of canvassing.