Help Get Voters to the Polls!
Talk With Potential Voters This Weekend!
There are lots of ways to help move voters between now and Election Day. Whatever you can do, your help matters.
We have real opportunities in our local races—but those opportunities only become votes when we reach people and help them make a plan to cast their ballots. Between now and Election Day, we need more volunteers talking with voters at their doors, calling from home, writing postcards, or helping at the campaign offices. Whatever fits you, there is a way to help.
We can’t let voters—no matter how frustrated, hopeless, angry, or discouraged they may feel—decide to sit this election out. As Lu Blanchard, Co-President of the League of Women Voters Utica/Rome Metro Chapter, wrote yesterday in The Daily Sentinel:
“Every person and every vote matters. Every person has possibilities. Use your voice to express your views and to stand up for your rights!”
Knock on doors to help make a real impact on the midterms....
Canvass in NY21 from the Rome office: weekend shifts are available, along with Tuesday–Thursday options. Rome Door Knocking! · New York State Democratic Committee
Canvass in NY22 from the Utica office: weekend canvassing is available on Saturdays and Sundays. Canvass for NY Dems in Utica · New York State Democratic Committee
Want to canvass in your own town? If you’d prefer a walk or drive list near you, contact the appropriate campaign office:
NY21: Lauren LaForest at laforest@nydems.org
NY22: Lybille Rocher at rocher@nydems.org
Are you not able to canvass? You can help too...many voters just need a friendly phone call to remind them that their vote matters!
Virtual phonebanking is also available for both NY21 and NY22.
Make Calls t437o Democratic Voters in Rome! · Stand Up America
Utica Virtual Phone Bank with NY Dems! · Stand Up America
Do you have a couple hours to volunteer your time at the Rome or Utica Campaign Office!?
Volunteers are needed at both the Utica and Rome Democratic campaign offices during their regular office hours. When volunteers staff the offices, paid campaign staff are free to knock doors and do other campaign work.
Office volunteers may:
Answer phones
Prepare mailings and canvassing materials
Greet and sign in walk-in volunteers
Help keep the offices open as many hours as possible
Utica Democratic HQ
Lybille Rocher
rocher@nydems.org
857-346-4655
Rome Democratic HQ
Lauren LaForest
laforest@nydems.org
315-335-3226
Postcard help is also needed at the Utica office! A large box of postcards needs to be prepared for unaffiliated and some Republican voters, encouraging them to vote for Jon Lipe on the Mohawk Valley First line. To arrange a time to help apply labels, contact Steven Anderson at Steven@LipeforAssembly.com.
What are Voter Education Slate Cards?
Along with candidate lawn signs, voter education slate cards are available at the NY21 Rome Campaign office and at the NY22 office in Utica. Leave them at every door, even when no one is home. No matter where you are talking to voters in Oneida County, these cards will help you with information about candidates and early voting. When you are out knocking doors, you are encouraging people to:
Vote early Oct. 24-Nov. 1
Make a plan for voting and discuss voting with friends and family
Request a ballot now via the Board of Elections if voting by mail is their best option
Understand and vote on the whole ballot from the top of the ticket on down
Kirkland Democrats’ Gathering on the Green
Meet Democratic candidates while enjoying food and music at this annual community event.
Saturday, September 26, 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Clinton Village Green
Featured candidates include Congressman John Mannion, Mandi Drake, Ihor Semko, Sheriff Rob Maciol, Mike Brown, and local Kirkland candidates.
Herkimer County: Meet the Candidates & Pick Up Postcards for Blake
Sunday, September 20th, 2:00–5:00 p.m.
Little Falls Senior/Community Center
524 E. Main Street, Little Falls
Meet local Democratic candidates Cassie Robbins-Forbus for NYS Senate District 49 and Colleen Maxwell for NYS Assembly District 118 — and pick up postcards and address lists to write to voters in support of Blake Gendebien.
There will be coffee and donuts, time to chat with candidates, and materials available for anyone who wants to help reach voters by mail.
Sponsored by the Herkimer County Democratic Committee.
Second Round of Jon Lipe Town Halls
Jon’s Town Hall in the pavilion in Floyd on Sunday was a success! There are two public town halls left in this round. Show up! Share the dates with your friends!
”The most important part of being in office is being honest and accessible. Everyone – Democrat, Republican, or Independent – is invited to attend and ask me any question they’d like and I’ll be there to listen to their concerns.”
—Jon Lipe
East Utica
Friday, Sept. 18, 6:30 p.m.
MVCC Alumni College Center
1101 Sherman Drive
Whitestown
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m.
Whitestown Community Center
1 Championship Way
The town halls are free and open to the public. No RSVP is required, and questions will not be screened.
Candidate Fundraisers
Brunch Fundraiser for Congressman John Mannion
Saturday, September 19, 10:30 a.m.
Clinton
RSVP here.
An Autumn Affair: Fundraiser for Mike Brown for Oneida County Clerk
Wednesday, September 23, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
The Kemble House
1211 Kemble Street, Utica
This event was rescheduled from its original date.
Purchase tickets here.
Oneida County Democrats Reception Honoring Congressman John Mannion
Wednesday, October 14, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Hart’s Hill Inn, Whitesboro
Purchase tickets here
What We Heard from John Zogby
We had a great turnout for our Zoom with our friend and neighbor, international political pollster John Zogby. Thanks for joining us! If you want to hear more from John and Jeremy Zogby at Zogby Strategies, they have a regular podcast available on their website.
During our meeting, John Zogby shared polling showing that voters thought Democrats would do a better job on seven of the 11 issues tested—including healthcare, affordability, the needs of working- and middle-class people, trust in government, and minimizing job losses from AI.
It is critical that when voters talk about their frustration with high prices at the pump, for home heating or food—or anything else—we help them make the connection to the Republican administration’s corruption, tariffs, and unnecessary wars. Trump’s regime is not doing anything to help us. Instead, it is making prices higher every day to serve its corporate donors and enrich those in power. Read IMV Leadership Team member Sarah Reeske's notes from the meeting here.
No Kings 4: Vote Early
Save the date: Saturday, October 17
This No Kings day of action will look different from previous rallies. No Kings: Vote Early is a nationwide day of nonpartisan voter participation focused on helping people use—and protect—their right to vote.
Because early voting in New York begins October 24, local activities in Utica, Rome, and Herkimer will focus on registering voters, helping people make a voting plan, and sharing ways to protect every eligible vote.
Local plans are still being developed, so watch for details in upcoming newsletters. You can also follow new events on the National No Kings map.
No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings
Shine Bright for Democracy
Support the Herkimer County Democratic Committee at a cocktail reception with local candidates.
Thursday, October 8, 6:00–8:30 p.m.
The Barn at Miner’s Village
4626 State Route 28, North Herkimer
Climate Crisis Working Group
Women’s Water Walk
Concerned about renewed threats from the proposed Constitution Pipeline? The Women’s Water Walk begins September 19 with a two-week, 113-mile prayer walk along the proposed pipeline route in New York State.
You can join for a week, a day, or even just an hour. The section closest to us will pass through Oneonta. Learn more about the Women’s Water Walk here.
If you are interested in participating on September 24th or 25th, please contact Maggie Reilly at margaret_reilly@mac.com. If enough people are interested, we may be able to organize a carpool.
IMV to Be Honored at NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner
Indivisible Mohawk Valley has been named a Community Honoree by the NAACP Oneida County Branch and will be recognized at its 2026 Annual Freedom Fund Dinner on Sunday, November 1st.
Our longtime social justice and political activism ally, Citizen Action of CNY, is the other Community Honoree. IMV activist and artist Teresa Van Etten is one of the individual honorees, along with Rev. Sharon Baugh, who spoke at our 2025 Good Trouble Lives On event.
NAACP Oneida County Branch Freedom Fund Dinner
Sunday, November 1st, 3:00–6:00 p.m.
Doors open at 2:30 p.m.
Five Points Public House and Events Center
623 Columbia Street
Early-bird tickets are available through October 1st and are $70 for adults and $50 for youth. After October 1st, prices increase to $75 for adults and $55 for youth. Ticket prices include admission to the dinner and a one-year NAACP membership. Current NAACP lifetime members may purchase tickets for $50.
Tickets are available through Monday, October 19th, and must be purchased in advance; they will not be sold at the door. For questions, contact Dawn Michelle Laguerre at laguerremedia@gmail.com or (315) 266-7548.
We hope you’ll join us to support the work of the NAACP in our community and celebrate our shared advocacy for human and civil rights, voting rights, freedom, and justice for all.
