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FLIP NC is a Durham-based, all-volunteer group that has been working on get-out-the-vote efforts since forming in early 2017. They run canvasses, phone banks, text banks and letter-writing campaigns – plus a relational voter program that asks citizens to talk to family and friends about the importance of their vote. Durham’s races aren’t typically very competitive, but there are five N.C. House districts within 30 miles that will likely be extremely close. So far, FLIP NC’s 385 unique canvassers – about half are residents of the Bull City – have knocked on 12,000 doors and had more than 3,200 conversations with voters in six different N.C. House districts across four counties. In August, 80 canvassers showed up to a single canvass in Wake County on a Sunday afternoon. Group leaders have also given 23 presentations around the state, mainly to other grassroots activists looking for guidance on what districts are most competitive and what forms of voter outreach are most effective. Two FLIP NC events at Motorco, designed to recruit volunteers, brought in more than 200 people with dozens more on a waiting list. Next month brings a “blue moon” election to our state, meaning there are no presidential or U.S. Senate races on the ballot. Turnout is usually uninspiring. During the last blue moon election in 2006, a mere 37% of voters cast a ballot. Compare that to a 69% turnout in 2016! “FLIP NC’s leadership team consists of nine people, mostly 30-somethings,” says the group’s communications director Andrea
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OCTOBER/November 2018
PHOTO BY BRIANA BROUGH
We the People
Griffith Cash. “We all have full-time jobs. Most have young children. We constantly joke that this is what we do now in our free time. Our
ever-growing team of volunteers includes Duke professors, professional musicians, small business owners and RTP scientists. People are excited
to get involved in this election, and they enjoy talking to their neighbors about the issues that matter to them.”
Learn how you can help with voter outreach efforts by going to FLIP
NC’s website: indivisibleflipnc.org. Don’t forget to vote on Nov. 6 (early
voting starts Oct. 17), and then join FLIP NC at its election night party at
Ponysaurus Brewing Co., a fitting location since the group held its first exploratory meeting there in January 2017.