U.S. election canvassers knock on Windsor doors in search of eligible American voters
If you live in Windsor, Ont. and get a knock at the door from a political canvasser, it might be surprising since there’s no election on the horizon at the municipal, provincial or federal level.
But across the Canada-U.S. border, the U.S. federal election is just two weeks away and, for the first time, door-to-door canvassing is happening in Windsor for a U.S. presidential election.
“There are over 20,000 Windsorites who hold U.S. citizenship,” said David Shelton, field management coordinator for Democrats Abroad in southern Ontario, adding that key states have been decided by slim margins in previous U.S. elections.
In 2016, Donald Trump won Michigan by 10,704 votes — roughly half the number of eligible U.S. voters estimated to live in Windsor — making every vote crucial in the tightly contested swing state.
Despite the name of the group behind the canvassing, Shelton said his team is part of Democrats Abroad's non-partisan wing.
Over the past week, Shelton and between seven to nine volunteers, depending on availability that day, have been searching for eligible U.S. voters in Windsor and encouraging them to vote.
“We want everyone’s voice to be heard, so our approach is just to encourage people to register and vote,” said Shelton, adding that this strategy allows them to access public spaces and reach more voters without appearing biased.
Door knocking in a Canadian city to find U.S. voters comes with challenges, as most people answering the door identify themselves as Canadian.
According to U.S. government data, about 606,000 Americans of voting age live in Canada.
But determining how many of those are registered for the 2024 U.S. election is difficult, said Jamey Essex, a political science professor at the University of Windsor.
He suggested that one reason Democrats Abroad might be canvassing in Windsor is the perception that Canada is a more left-leaning country.
“It’s a bit of a stereotype that’s longstanding,” said Essex.
“There is that sense among Americans that, if you’re living abroad, you’re probably prone to be a little more liberal. I don’t know if that’s actually the case. I think if you quizzed Americans on who is the ruling party at the provincial level in Ontario, I don’t know what kind of answer you’d get, but I think they might be surprised to find out it’s a conservative party.”
When asked about the impact of out-of-country voters on U.S. elections, Essex said it may be minimal.
“The turnout is usually quite low for voters abroad. It’s somewhere between five and 10 per cent, depending on the year,” said Essex.
But it’s those low numbers that Democrats Abroad’s canvassing team in Windsor hopes to increase for the 2024 election.
So far, the team has knocked on just over 2,000 doors in one week, with a goal of reaching 5,000 homes by U.S. election day on Nov. 5.
“A couple of days ago, we came across a house that had four eligible U.S. voters,” said Shelton. “Just one of those finds every now and then is enough to keep us going.”
“Talking to young people about the importance of their involvement in decisions that affect how our governments operate and how our world will be is so vitally important,” he said.
“That’s probably what I enjoy most about this exercise.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Halifax police confirm body of Walmart employee was found in walk-in oven
Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.
Man charged after attempting to force his way into the House of Commons: police
On the tenth anniversary of the shooting on Parliament Hill, a man was arrested and charged with trespassing as he attempted to push past security guards into the House of Commons.
'We all got through it': Canadian family stuck in Cuba recalls ordeal amid massive blackout
Ellen Francis says she and her family were having a great time at one of Cuba's famously stunning beaches and exploring the popular tourist town of Varadero when the situation turned into something like a scary movie.
'Prayers are needed': Father and children who suffered severe burns in Springfield, Ont. fire undergo surgery
A father and his two children who suffered severe burns in a Springfield, Ont. house fire have undergone surgery.
One dead in multistate E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald's Quarter Pounders, CDC says
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a food safety alert Tuesday regarding an E. coli outbreak that it says is linked with McDonald’s Quarter Pounders.
Cooldown expected across Canada before above-seasonal temperatures return
Canada is getting served a smorgasbord of weather this week. The West saw its first sign of winter, while the eastern half of Canada experienced summer-like temperatures on Tuesday.
Kevin Vickers says 'not a day that goes by' he doesn't think about Parliament Hill shooting
On the 10-year anniversary of the deadly Parliament Hill shooting, former sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers says there's 'not a day that goes by' where he doesn't think about it.
No Canadians in Cuba have requested consular assistance, Global Affairs says
None of the more than 1,600 Canadians currently registered in Cuba have requested consular assistance in returning to Canada, Global Affairs Canada confirmed to CTVNews.ca.
Former Conservative leader says Trudeau 'should move on' amid efforts to oust him
Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'should move on,' as he faces growing inner-caucus turmoil.