No, these aren’t booty calls from Joe Biden (unless…?). Ahead of November’s election, students took to their keyboards and sent out hundreds of political messages. From Ted Cruz stans in Texas to civically-minded Florida Men to whoever it is that lives in Ohio, potential swing state voters received a slew of texts asking if they were registered to vote or willing to support certain candidates. While the vast majority of voters left students on read, a small percentage fired back with responses ranging from confrontational to downright confusing. Click through to see their replies and witness what technically counts as democracy at work.
Names of respondents have been removed to preserve anonymity
Enter article
Ryley Boddeker-O’Connor, SESP second-year
Ryley Boddeker-O’Connor is a SESP second-year who sent texts with the Texas Democratic Party. She said in addition to these responses, voters sent her GIFs of Trump and even a picture of an individual at a Trump rally.
Hi ____! It's Ryley with Texas Democrats. Can we count on you to support Democrats up and down the ballot?
Facebook told me that Democrats are pedophiles. I can't support that
Hi ____! It's Ryley with Texas Democrats. Can we count on you to support Democrats up and down the ballot?
no
Hi ____! It's Ryley with Texas Democrats. Can we count on you to support Democrats up and down the ballot?
Of course. I want no police, social workers answering a 911 emergency, Millenials to riot my community by throwing their tantrums to get their way,desctruction of our businesses, communist socialism,government control of our education like no child left behind(more like no child left with a mind)mail in ballots so that anyone can vote even if you're dead, higher taxes,and open borders to pay freebies to everyone in the world who feel their gravy train is limitless because us liberals will give them all they want with our higher taxes to supply their wants and needs. Yes, count me in to the communist Marxist BLM movement which has nothing to do with the Black race. Count me in to tearing apart a child in the womb like a cut up chicken who might have been the most amazing inventor,teacher, doctor or even a President of the USA. Yea. Count me in. NOT!
Next
Maddie Brown, Weinberg second-year
Maddie Brown, a Weinberg second-year, text banked through Back To Blue Pennsylvania. She ‘adopted’ Pennsylvania through Vote Save America’s Adopt A State program because she canvassed there during the 2016 election and “was really mad when it went red.”
Hi ____ - it's Maddie with the PA Dems! Election Day is right around the corner and I wanted to check in. Will you be supporting Joe Biden for president in the upcoming election?
Fuck NO Maddie from PA Dems! Go find a day job Maddie! Stop spamming people!!!
Trump 2020
Make America great again!!!!!
Hi ____ - it's Maddie with the PA Dems! Election Day is right around the corner and I wanted to check in. Will you be supporting Joe Biden for president in the upcoming election?
I'm voting for Jesus
Hi ____ - it's Maddie with the PA Dems! Election Day is right around the corner and I wanted to check in. Will you be supporting Joe Biden for president in the upcoming election?
I'm supporting no one but myself
That's a sentiment I can respect. Personally, I'm supporting myself by voting for Joe-- can you do the same?
Next
Leslie Robins, SESP first-year
Leslie Robins, a first-year in SESP, texted for Vote.org after joining Producing Blue’s First Time Voters’ Club. Erika Henningsen, an actress who played Cady Heron in Mean Girls on Broadway, hosts the club, which connects new voters with political groups like Open Progress to get them involved in the election.
Hi ____. This is Leslie with Vote.org. Early voting is going on, can we count on you to be an early voter?
What are you wearing Leslie from vote.org?
I wasn’t allowed to respond with ‘khakis,’ like in the State Farm commercial, but I wanted to so badly,” Robins said.
Hi ____. This is Leslie with Vote.org. Early voting is going on, can we count on you to be an early voter?
This is ____’s wife, is he having an affair with you too??? You can have him, that no good SOB
Hi ____. This is Leslie with Vote.org. Early voting is going on, can we count on you to be an early voter?
Heck yes. I’ll drag myself buck niked over broken glass covered in covid to get rid of this orange lump of shit
Thank you for volunteering
Next
Alexa Goldstein, Communication first-year
Alexa Goldstein is a first-year in the School of Communication, and she sent texts around the country with Vote.org. She got involved with text banking through Open Progress’ Text Troop, a national organization focused on “engaging in candidate and issues-focused conversations with voters,” according to its website.
Hi ____. My name is Alexa and I’m a volunteer with Vote.org. Early voting has begun in many states, can I count on you to be an early voter?
Alexa, play take me off your list!
Hi ____. My name is Alexa and I’m a volunteer with Vote.org. Early voting has begun in many states, can I count on you to be an early voter?