Operation Swing State
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Illinois VolunteersChicago & Chicagoland

Volunteer from Illinois. Win next door.

Illinois is not a swing state, so your time has the most impact in the swing-state races one state over. Ride a free carpool to Wisconsin or Michigan, phone bank from home, or write postcards. No experience needed.

Illinois volunteers holding signs at a campaign kickoff
Illinois volunteers mobilizing for Midwest battlegrounds.

Three ways to take action

Go in person or stay home. Every option starts with training, and you pick the shift that fits your week.

In person

Canvass

Knock doors in Wisconsin and Michigan with a buddy. Free carpools leave from Chicagoland hubs, most sites are 60 minutes to 2.5 hours away, and training is provided.

Canvass trips →
From home

Phone bank online

Join a virtual phone bank from your computer. A live Zoom training comes first, and the dialer masks your personal number.

Phone bank shifts →
Home or local

Write postcards

Write handwritten postcards to swing-state voters at your kitchen table or at a postcard gathering with a local Chicago-area Democratic group.

Postcard options →

Illinois is not a swing state. Your effort counts most nearby.

Illinois is not a swing state, so statewide races here are rarely decided by a few votes. Wisconsin races are routinely decided by less than 1%, and Michigan has a high-stakes U.S. Senate race and toss-up House seats. Chicago sits right at the border, which is why Illinois volunteers can supply decisive field capacity.

In 2024 our coalition mobilized ten thousand canvassing shifts and knocked a quarter million doors in Wisconsin and Michigan. Read more on our Illinois and Midwest strategy page.

Find the right way to help

Answer with the option closest to you.

Pick the line that sounds most like you and we will point you to the right shift.

Upcoming shifts for Illinois volunteers

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Weekend of October 3 & 4

Evanston Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 3 · 8:00 AM

Illinois Joint Canvass WI-03, Red-to-Blue district

★ WisconsinSign up

Oak Park Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 3 · 9:00 AMDemocratic Party of Oak Park

Knock doors in Wisconsin with the Democratic Party of Oak Park

★ WisconsinSign up

Winnetka Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 3 · 10:00 AMNew Trier Dems +1

Knock doors in Wisconsin with New Trier Democrats and Hanley for Illinois

★ WisconsinSign up

Milwaukee Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 3 · 10:00 AM

Knock doors in Wisconsin: Drive Directly

★ WisconsinSign up

Dubuque Canvass to Iowa

Sat Oct 3 · 12:00 PM

Knock doors in Iowa: Drive Directly

Dubuque Canvass to Iowa

Sun Oct 4 · 12:00 PM

Knock doors in Iowa: Drive Directly

Winnetka Postcard Party

Fri Oct 2 · 10:30 AMNew Trier Dems

Write postcards to swing states

Swing statesSign up

Weekend of October 10 & 11

Hyde Park Canvass to Michigan

Sat Oct 10 · 8:00 AMUChicago Dems

Knock doors in Michigan with the UChicago Dems

★ MichiganSign up

Uptown Canvass to Michigan

Sat Oct 10 · 8:00 AM46th Ward Dems

Knock doors in Michigan with the 46th Ward Dems to flip the U.S. House and Senate

★ MichiganSign up

Oak Park Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 10 · 9:00 AMDemocratic Party of Oak Park

Knock doors in Wisconsin with the Democratic Party of Oak Park

★ WisconsinSign up

Rogers Park Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 10 · 10:00 AM

Knock doors in Wisconsin with Biss for Congress

★ WisconsinSign up

Milwaukee Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 10 · 10:00 AM

Knock doors in Wisconsin: Drive Directly

★ WisconsinSign up

Dubuque Canvass to Iowa

Sat Oct 10 · 12:00 PM

Knock doors in Iowa: Drive Directly

Muscoda Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 10 · 12:00 PM

Join Men4Choice to knock doors in Wisconsin

★ WisconsinSign up

Dubuque Canvass to Iowa

Sun Oct 11 · 12:00 PM

Knock doors in Iowa: Drive Directly

Write postcards to swing states with Hanley for Illinois

Tue Oct 6 · 1:00 PMHanley for Illinois

IllinoisSign up

Oak Park Postcard Party

Tue Oct 6 · 6:00 PMDemocratic Party of Oak Park

Postcarding Party with the Democratic Party of Oak Park

IllinoisSign up

Lincoln Square Postcard Party

Wed Oct 7 · 6:00 PM

47th Ward Democrats Wednesday Nights Voter & Volunteer Outreach

IllinoisSign up

North Center Phonebank

Wed Oct 7 · 6:00 PM32nd Ward Dems

Voter & Volunteer Outreach with the 32nd Ward Democrats

IllinoisSign up

Evanston Phonebank

Wed Oct 7 · 6:30 PMPink Poster Club

Make calls to swing states with Pink Poster Club! (In-Person)

Swing statesSign up

Oak Park Phonebank

Thu Oct 8 · 6:00 PMDemocratic Party of Oak Park

Make Calls to Swing States with the Democratic Party of Oak Park

Swing statesSign up

Weekend of October 17 & 18

Uptown Canvass to Iowa

Fri Oct 16 · 4:00 PM

Get out the early vote in Iowa! (Overnight Trip!)

Uptown Canvass to Iowa

Sat Oct 17 · 8:00 AM

Get out the early vote in Iowa! (Overnight Trip!)

Uptown Canvass to Michigan

Sat Oct 17 · 8:00 AM

Get out the early vote in Michigan! (Overnight Trip!)

★ MichiganSign up

Lincoln Square Canvass to Iowa

Sat Oct 17 · 8:00 AM

Knock doors in Iowa with the 40th, 47th, 32nd Ward Dems and Q Force

Oak Park Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 17 · 9:00 AMDemocratic Party of Oak Park

Knock doors in Wisconsin with the Democratic Party of Oak Park

★ WisconsinSign up

Evanston Canvass to Michigan

Sat Oct 17 · 9:30 AMNorthwestern College Dems

Bus trip to Michigan with the Northwestern College Dems

★ MichiganSign up

Champaign Canvass to Michigan

Sat Oct 17 · 9:30 AMIllini Dems

Bus trip to Michigan with the Illini Dems

★ MichiganSign up

Bloomington Canvass to Michigan

Sat Oct 17 · 9:30 AMIllinois State University +1

Bus trip to Michigan with the Illinois State University and lllinois Wesleyan College Dems

★ MichiganSign up

Winnetka Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 17 · 10:00 AMNew Trier Dems +1

Knock doors in Wisconsin with New Trier Democrats and Hanley for Illinois

★ WisconsinSign up

Highland Park Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 17 · 10:00 AMTenth Congressional District Dems

Knock doors in Wisconsin with the Tenth Congressional District Democrats

★ WisconsinSign up

Milwaukee Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 17 · 10:00 AM

Knock doors in Wisconsin: Drive Directly

★ WisconsinSign up

Dubuque Canvass to Iowa

Sat Oct 17 · 12:00 PM

Knock doors in Iowa: Drive Directly

Uptown Canvass to Iowa

Sun Oct 18 · 8:00 AM

Get out the early vote in Iowa! (Overnight Trip!)

Uptown Canvass to Michigan

Sun Oct 18 · 8:00 AM

Get out the early vote in Michigan! (Overnight Trip!)

★ MichiganSign up

Evanston Canvass to Wisconsin

Sun Oct 18 · 10:30 AMPink Poster Club

Knock doors in Wisconsin with the Pink Poster Club

★ WisconsinSign up

Dubuque Canvass to Iowa

Sun Oct 18 · 12:00 PM

Knock doors in Iowa: Drive Directly

Uptown Postcard Party

Mon Oct 12 · 4:00 PM

PostcardPalooza with Pizza! Part 2

IllinoisSign up

Beverly Phonebank

Tue Oct 13 · 6:30 PMPolitics & Coffee

Make calls to swing states with Politics & Coffee! (In-Person)

Swing statesSign up

Weekend of October 24 & 25

Uptown Canvass to Michigan

Sat Oct 24 · 8:00 AM46th Ward Dems

Knock doors in Michigan with the 46th Ward Dems to flip the U.S. House and Senate

★ MichiganSign up

Hyde Park Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 24 · 8:00 AMUChicago Dems

Knock doors in Wisconsin with the UChicago Dems

★ WisconsinSign up

Oak Park Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 24 · 9:00 AMDemocratic Party of Oak Park

Knock doors in Wisconsin with the Democratic Party of Oak Park

★ WisconsinSign up

Racine Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 24 · 9:00 AM

Knock doors in Wisconsin for Trevor Jung with Men4Choice

★ WisconsinSign up

Evanston Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 24 · 9:30 AMNorthwestern College Dems

Bus trip to Wisconsin with the Northwestern College Dems

★ WisconsinSign up

Oakbrook Terrace Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 24 · 9:30 AMIllini Dems

Bus trip to Wisconsin with the Illini Dems

★ WisconsinSign up

Bloomington Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 24 · 9:30 AMIllinois State University +1

Bus trip to Wisconsin with the Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan College Dems

★ WisconsinSign up

Winnetka Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 24 · 10:00 AMNew Trier Dems +1

Knock doors in Wisconsin with New Trier Democrats and Hanley for Illinois

★ WisconsinSign up

Highland Park Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 24 · 10:00 AMTenth Congressional District Dems

Knock doors in Wisconsin with the Tenth Congressional District Democrats

★ WisconsinSign up

Milwaukee Canvass to Wisconsin

Sat Oct 24 · 10:00 AM

Knock doors in Wisconsin: Drive Directly

★ WisconsinSign up

Dubuque Canvass to Iowa

Sat Oct 24 · 12:00 PM

Knock doors in Iowa: Drive Directly

Beverly Canvass

Sun Oct 25 · 10:00 AMPolitics and Coffee

Knock doors in swing states with Politics and Coffee

Swing statesSign up

Evanston Canvass to Wisconsin

Sun Oct 25 · 10:30 AMPink Poster Club

Knock doors in Wisconsin with the Pink Poster Club

★ WisconsinSign up

Dubuque Canvass to Iowa

Sun Oct 25 · 12:00 PM

Knock doors in Iowa: Drive Directly

Virtual action

Can't make a carpool? Phonebanks and trainings run from your couch.

Make Calls with Operation Swing State

Sun Oct 4 · 2:00 PM

Sign up →

Learn How to Knock Doors with Operation Swing State

Mon Oct 5 · 7:00 PM

Sign up →

Make calls, save democracy

Tue Oct 6 · 6:00 PM

Sign up →

Make calls to swing states with Politics & Coffee! (Virtual)

Thu Oct 29 · 6:00 PM

Sign up →

Volunteering from Illinois FAQs

Quick answers before you sign up.

What volunteer opportunities does Operation Swing State offer in Illinois?

Illinois volunteers can ride in a free weekend carpool from Chicagoland to canvass in Wisconsin or Michigan, join a virtual phone bank from home, or write postcards to swing-state voters at home or at a local Chicago-area postcard gathering. Upcoming shifts for all of these are listed on this page and on Mobilize.

Do I need experience or a car to volunteer?

No prior experience or personal car is required. Every canvass launch includes hands-on training, scripts, and buddy pairings for first-time volunteers, and we pair drivers who have extra seats with volunteers who need a ride.

Why travel to Wisconsin or Michigan when I live in Illinois?

Illinois is not a swing state, so volunteer time has the most impact in nearby swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan. Wisconsin and Michigan have races decided by razor-thin margins, and Wisconsin canvass sites are typically a 60- to 90-minute drive from Chicago.

Where do Chicago carpools depart from?

Carpool hubs have included Rogers Park, Lincoln Park, Logan Square, Oak Park, Evanston, and Highland Park, plus partner hubs such as 46th Ward Dems, UChicago, and Northwestern for Michigan trips. The exact meeting point for each trip is listed on its sign-up page.

Can I volunteer from home?

Yes. Virtual phone banks start with a live Zoom training, and the automated dialer masks your personal phone number. You can also write postcards to voters at home or at a local postcard gathering.

How do I sign up?

Pick a shift from the upcoming list on this page. Sign-ups are handled through Mobilize, and your chosen shift page will confirm the time and meeting place.

Put your Illinois energy where it counts

Pick a shift this week. Training and scripts are provided.

Operation Swing State

Knock doors, win elections.

Operation Swing State is a volunteer-led coalition of Illinois Democratic parties, labor unions, and progressive advocacy groups. With great proximity comes great responsibility.

Paid for by Operation Swing State Political Action Committee. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board's official website (www.elections.il.gov) or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.

Created by Faction Labs in Chicago, IL