Elana & Elena's Blog - Archived Entry

Saturday, September 11th, four carloads of New Yorkers went down to Chester, PA, 15 miles SW of Philly. We met local Chester activists, students from Swartmore college, Swing the State volunteers, and ACORN and Campaign for Peace & Democracy for a great day of voter registration.

The internet and computers are amazing yet so frustrating…I wrote this the day I got back and it disappeared and I have yet to re-write, but at long last…

Elena and I spent September 11, 2004 in Chester, PA registering voters. We got a lot of positive response from our various postings, including one on Cosmopolity, so much so, that we were worried we wouldn’t have enough car space for everyone. Luckily, Swing the State came to the rescue with some extra car space (as well as one of our very enthusiastic trip-goers who got a car together at the last minute).

Three of our four cars met up in mid-town and caravanned down to Chester. We met up with the Campaign for Peace and Democracy, Swarthmore students, Swing the State, ACORN and other volunteers at the East Side Ministry. There were upwards of 70 volunteers (way more than expected). We were given a brief training on voter registration and an orientation into the area where we were going. Then the Campaign, in a very organized fashion, called out small groups of people and sent them on their way to register voters.

Elena, Rory and I went to a Kmart/ Pathmark shopping center. We had a lot of success there, Rory, being the master. He registered 18 people in 2.5 hours! He had quite a way with the people. I got kicked out of the Pathmark area after talking to a man who showed me his RNC membership card. I definitely blame him. I had been there for two hours prior to speaking with him. I had talked to many of the employees and many shoppers. He came up to me and inquired into what I was doing. I told him I was registering voters. He asked who I was paid by. I told him I was a volunteer. He told me he was registered to vote. I told him great. He told me I needed a permit. I politely told him that I did not think that was the case, but I would look into it. He told me it was and I shouldn’t be there. I thanked him for his concern and walked away. I was then approached by a store security guard who told me customers were complaining and I’d have to leave. I thanked her, and switched places with Elena. We both were fine for another half hour and then she got kicked out. But by that time we were all done.

We met back up with our group who all had a very positive experience. Some of our people enjoyed it so much that they stayed for the afternoon to continue registering people.

Our group registered over 100 voters that day and Driving Votes along with the other groups registered over 500 people!

You can join a similar trip Saturday, September 25th or the first weekend in October. Email Elena@drivingvotes.org

Look how much fun we had!

-Elana