Thread by @abreezeclayton

hi! I’m a firm believer in knocking every door, but I realize that right now, that could mean putting your own safety at risk! here are a couple of tips I do before knocking a packet of #rural doors:

1. Call through your list first. I realize that many of the reasons you’re probably knocking these doors are because rural voter data #sucks, BUT sometimes you’ll get lucky. It’s a great way to tell someone you’re going to come by, or figure out ahead of time who is HOSTILE.

2. RESPECT no trespassing signs. These are different than “no solicitor” signs. No trespassing folks are likely to meet you at the door with a shot gun. And don’t u dare trying to go around someone’s locked gate. Leave the lit on it! - don’t do something stupid.

3. Knock and introduce yourself first. You’re knocking on THEIR door. It’s important you identify who the hell you are, before you ask for their name or if you have the right residence.

4. Do not go in anyone’s house under any circumstances. Transparency moment - I’ve definitely broken this rule several times, but it’s always been when I’ve felt extremely comfortable. Listen to your GUT. it will never lead you wrong in those situations.

5. Never go alone. Always have a buddy. It makes the driving part easier. However, transparency moment #2, I also break this rule frequently. BUT if you are - you BETTER have your location shared with someone, let them know your exact route, when you expect to lose cell service…

And when they should expect you back. Now, you’re probably like, anderson that’s a lot to know about an area you’ve never knocked before. EXACTLY.

So rule #6 is the second part of #5 - don’t knock an area you are unfamiliar with the first time by yourself.

7. Leave your keys in your car - car running if the driveway isn’t too long. Trust me on that one. Let me know what tips y’all would add - these are me thinking on the fly.

Like genuinely the doors have surprised me this year. They’re not as friendly as they used to be especially out in the #rurals. Isolationism has done a lot to our country and I can feel that at the doors sometimes.

Also a bonus is #8 - I always try to find a democrat that lives somewhere around there to let me park my car/tell folks who I know in that particular area. Like on that road specifically!

And if there aren’t any? Find a nice Republican or independent. Especially if you’re from that area, you know as well as I do, that they do live there and will be nice to you if you are to them.

tbh another transparency moment - I’ve tested this too lol oops

ALSO! I fully understand that not all rural is the same. What works in some places doesn’t work in others. I tell folks often, “when you’ve seen one rural town, you’ve seen one rural town.” So here is the description of places I’ve knocked in using these rules:

rural Iowa (towns with populations less than 1,000 people), rural Eastern Kentucky (at least 40 different counties), and rural North Carolina where I am now. I’ve never knocked doors in the Wild West, and it seems like a completely different beast - so I am owning that now!