12 Week Plan

We have less than 12 weeks until the midterm elections. There’s a lot at stake. You can do entire 12-Week Plan, or pick from a menu the options that work best for you. The All Hands On Deck team is available to support you and walk you through it every step of the way! Just email ondeck2010@gmail.com.

Phase 1: Organize

And we’re off! Weeks 1-3 are your time to develop your local plan, get your team together, spread the word, do the research, and gear up for the home stretch to victory. Sign up to participate.

Week 1

Get Organized. Tell your friends. (August 14-15)

  • PRIORITY: Create a local strategy session event online at: www.12weekplan.org. We’ll give you tools and one-on-one support.
  • PLAN: Download the 12-Week Plan and look it over. Think through your own 12-Week Plan as an individual. What can you realistically commit?
  • RECRUIT: Go through your phone and Facebook and invite folks to your first strategy session. Have one-on-one conversations with friends you want to do this with.
  • RESEARCH: Registration and Early Vote Deadlines and target races in your state or nearby.
  • CONNECT: Call in to a 12-Week Plan local organizer conference call.
  • FACEBOOK: Add “12-Week Plan” Status update and profile picture.
  • QUESTIONS? The All Hands On Deck crew is just an email away: ondeck2010@gmail.com

Week 2Local Strategy Sessions (August 21-22)

  • MEET-UP: Organize your first local strategy session with 2-10 people.
  • PLAN: Use the 12-Week Plan Toolkit to customize your local plan as a team.
  • RECRUIT: Plan your next strategy session, send out contact info, and make sure to list the event on www.12weekplan.org.
  • RESEARCH: Check out theballot.org and begin to research your own Local Voter Guide that you can share with friends and voters in your area. Just like a newspaper –you’ll endorse your picks for 2010. Where can you get advice? (Local political junkies, online information)
  • CONNECT: Link up with ally voter groups in your area. We can help.
  • REGISTRATION: (Optional): Planning a registration drive? Plan it. Make sure you know the laws in your state first. College move-in is usually in this time. Great way to register students.
  • TEAM: One-on-one conversations with each member of your team about what they want to do and their schedule and time. Clarify roles and working groups so each person can focus, not waste time. Set-up your team googledoc and google group and don’t abuse them!
  • DOCUMENT: Tell us what you’re planning –and send photos! Ondeck2010@gmail.com

Week 3Defend the Dream (August 28-29)

  • PRIORITY: On August 28, Glenn Beck will give a speech on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Hold a brunch or another meet-up in your area to Defend the Dream from Beck and his followers!
  • RECRUIT: Email and Facebook everyone you know asking people to join and come to the Defend the Dream brunch.
  • CONNECT: Need help? The All Hands On Deck crew is just an email away: ondeck2010@gmail.com.
  • CATCH-UP: On anything from previous two weeks.
  • ROAD TRIP (optional): Thinking about taking a road trip to a swing state? If so, plan it out!

Week 4Labor Day (September 4-6)

Relax, Enjoy, and Rest Up!

Phase 2: Dive In!

Weeks 5-7 are the key time to create your voter guide, begin your swing state trips if you’re planning to do them, get your feet wet as a team and recruit recruit recruit.

Starting late? It’s okay. There’s plenty of time to catch up fast.
Week 5Create Your Voter Guide (September 7-12)

  • VOTER GUIDE: Do a first draft of your voter guide this week, even if it’s incomplete. Starting to write will improve your research process.
  • RECRUIT: Also a great week to recruit new people, break bread, orient volunteers, go over the rest of the plan.
  • REGISTER (optional): Make sure you know the law in your state before registering voters.

Week 6Recruit + Finish Guide + Road Trips (September 13-19)

  • TEAM: One-on-one conversations with each member of your team to make sure they’re happy, in a good role, and being maximized.
  • TEAM: Do you need to do a volunteer training or planning session? Now’s a good time to do it.
  • VOTER GUIDE: Research and Write Voter Guide.
  • RECRUIT: Recruit at festivals and public places.
  • QUESTIONS? The All Hands On Deck crew is just an email away: ondeck2010@gmail.com.

Week 7Voter Registration Overdrive (Sepember 20-26)

  • VOTER GUIDE: Your voter guide process should wrap up ideally in advance of early voting (varies by state) Explore whether you want to print guides, cost, etc.
  • REGISTRATION (optional): Kick voter registration efforts into high gear. Deadlines in most states are right around the corner. We’ll help point you to the places where your registration help is needed most—from quarter campus move-in days to concerts, farmers markets, street fairs.
  • EARLY VOTE (optional): Plan your Early Vote kick-off rally and media event (some states)
  • ROAD TRIP: Two important national conferences this week: Facing Race in Chicago and Coffee Party in Louisville, both in key Senate swing states!

Phase 3: GOTV! (Get out the Vote)

All systems go.
Week 8Reg Deadline + One Nation + Early Vote (September 27-October 3)

  • ONE NATION: Progressives across the country are joining as One Nation on 10-2-10. Sign up to attend the One Nation march in Washington, D.C. on October 2. Bus trips in a 12 hour radius will have on-bus vote trainings.
  • MEET-UP: Can’t make it to Washington? Throw one of hundreds of house parties to celebrate how far we’ve come. Gear up for the coming battles.
  • REGISTER (optional): Last Chance to Register Week. It’s the last chance to register this week in many states! Pitch in on National Voter Registration Day, September 28! Organize or attend a voter registration event.
  • EARLY VOTE (optional): Early Vote begins in Ohio and other states.
  • VOTER GUIDE: Voter guide release parties and rallies begin in early vote states!
  • ROAD TRIP (optional): Organize or attend a road trip to a nearby swing district.

Week 910-10-10 Day of Action + Early Vote (October 4-10)

  • 10-10-10: Sign up to organize a volunteer recruitment event surrounding 10-10-10, the day we join together to tell our leaders: “We’re getting to work–what about you?” Less than a month out from the elections, it will be a critical time to send the message that we need real clean energy solutions.
  • GOTV / TRICK OR VOTE: Begin planning in detail for Trick or Vote and your 86 Hour Plan for GOTV if you haven’t already.
  • ROAD TRIP (optional): Get on the bus! Sign up to ship out to a nearby swing state, where you can help push progressive candidates over the top to victory. Whether you have a day or a week, All Hands On Deck can help you figure out where to go, how to get there, and who to connect with to make sure you’re presence makes a real impact.
  • FACEBOOK: Add “I Voted Early” Profile picture.

Week 10
GOTV Prep (October 11-17)

  • MEET-UP: Have a Team Meeting to plan and prep for GOTV. Invite new volunteers!
  • TEAM: One-on-ones with each team member. Go over roles and schedule through Election Day.
  • PLAN: Take election day off to Get Out The Vote (ideally two days and plan a road trip if you’re not in a key district)
  • ROAD TRIP (optional): Organize or attend a road trip to a nearby swing district.

Week 11GOTV Prep (October 18-24)

  • VOTER GUIDE: Throw Voter Guide release party if you haven’t already.
  • GOTV: Schedule volunteer GOTV shifts.
  • PLAN: Take election day off to Get Out The Vote.
  • TEAM: One-on-ones with each team member. Go over roles and schedule through Election Day.
  • ROAD TRIP (optional): Sign up if you can organize or attend a road trip to a nearby swing district.
  • FACEBOOK: Add “Trick Or Vote” Status Update and Profile picture.

Week 12Trick or Vote (October 25 – November 2)

  • 86-HOUR PLAN: Starting Saturday at Noon, your life is about the election.
  • ROADTRIP (optional): If you can take off Saturday – Tuesday to go to a swing state.
  • SATURDAY: Training, and giving assignments and turf to volunteers, especially new ones.
  • SUNDAY: Trick or Vote Canvass in Costume —sign up to Trick or Vote, canvassing in costume on Halloween (Sunday), take part in final GOTV efforts before the polls close, and throw a victory party to celebrate all that you’ve accomplished over 12 weeks!
  • MONDAY: Phone, doors with target universe and on campuses. Pass out voter guides everywhere!
  • TUESDAY 6am: Election Day: Pass out voter guides at the polls. Phone bank and text target universe.
  • TUESDAY NIGHT CELEBRATE: After the polls close, crash a local victory party as a team!
  • WEDNESDAY: Stolen election? Recount? Be ready to advocate!
  • DOCUMENT: Have your whole team send in your photos and post-election debriefs!
  • FACEBOOK: Add “I Voted” Status Update and Profile picture.