Current Phonebanking Opportunities
Scroll down for phone banking tips and to learn about our candidates!
Join A Virtual Phonebanking Event:
Tuesdays 6:30-8pm, Thursdays 1-2:30pm, and Saturdays once a month
Each virtual phonebank includes training for new and returning phonebankers. We share successes and answer questions throughout. You can stay muted and connected the whole time, or disconnect and join us when we break. Come one, come all!
What You Need To Make Calls
a comfortable spot with your computer/tablet and phone. You'll probably call from your own phone - these are down-ballot, underfunded candidates, so no frills. Optional, earbuds or headphones for hands-free dialing;
Zoom login information to join the event (you'll receive connection details after signing up through Mobilize);
information about the candidates folks might ask (see below, we've got the highlights!);
a pen and paper to keep a call tally (we'll ask you to report your calls to help us track our effort and impact);
and an ActionID account to access VPB (the virtual phone bank system we use to make calls).
To Begin, Get to Know our Candidates:
Knowing a bit about the candidates and/or having their website and dossier easily accessible will make your life easier as you make calls and voters have questions! We suggest choosing a couple of key issues to learn about and highlight.
Schuyler VanValkenburg is a father, teacher, and current VA Delegate. As a History and US Government teacher at Glen Allen High. He has served in the House of Delegates for 6 years. Schuyler has worked tirelessly to ensure that Virginia remains a leader in public education. He also is proud of his work to pass commonsense gun safety legislation, protect a woman's reproductive freedom, expand access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, and increase access to the ballot box.
Website: https://vanvalkenburg4va.com/
District
The newly formed VA Senate disstrict 16 is situated in the Richmond suburbs, encompassing much of Henrico County, including the towns of Glen Allen, Tuckahoe, Short Pump, and parts of Lakeside. The district is historically quite competitive and has newly established boundaries
Opponent
Siobhan Dunnavant is a physician and current State Senator for Western Henrico who uses her position as a physician to advocate for stricter abortion laws and consistently votes against lowering the cost of prescription drugs.
Key Issues
Education: continued investment needed to hire suppport staff, reduce costs of community colleges and four-year programs.
Reproductive Rights: the only pro-choice candidate in SD-16, Schuyler will always vote against extremist bans that threaten the fundamental rights of Virginian women.
Gun Violence Prevention: a promise to consistently vote for gun safety legislation and re-introduce the Safe Storage Bill.
Healthcare: lower prescription drug costs and improve our healthcare system
Why This Race Matters
Electing Schuyler VanValkenburg is an opportunity to maintain a Democratic majority in the Virginia State Senate and prevent Virginia from becoming the next Florida or Tennessee, passing harmful and discriminatory legislation, and prevent his opponent, a champion for restrictive reproductive rights and conservative policy. This district is considered politically competitive and winning will depend on mobilizing votes all the way down the ballot.
Virginia Calendar
June 9th: deadline to request absentee ballot (Primary)
June 20th: Primary Election Day and deadline to register to vote (Primary)
October 24: deadline to request absentee ballot (General)
Tuesday, November 8: Election Day
8pm deadline to drop off mail-in ballot
8pm deadline for county to receive mailed ballots
Other Useful Information and Resources
Virtual Phonebanking Guide (Google Doc)
A comprehensive guide to everything you'll want to know about phonebankingPhonebanking Tips for Talking to Voters
for suggestions on how to approach making calls and interacting with voters
Need Help Logging Into Your ActionID Account?
Sister District Project uses OpenVPB, an interactive phonebanking system. Before making calls or joining a virtual phonebanking session, you'll need to set up your ActionID account. If you've made calls with other organizations, you may already have an account.
Already have an account, but forgot your login information? Reset your password.
Need to create an account? Sign up for an ActionID account. You'll need that account to log into OpenVPB and make calls.