They know.

Voting early saves campaigns time and money because once your ballot is received, you no longer appear on the list of registered voters who haven’t yet voted. It may take a few days to be received and for the lists to be updated, but it’ll happen. It’s a huge help. https://twitter.com/rschooley/status/1315408585493422080

In the meantime, if campaigns call/text/knock, let them know you already voted! Most campaigns and organizations have a way for volunteers to make note of that so you won’t get any more contacts for a few days while your ballot’s being processed as received.

If you lie and tell them you voted but actually didn’t, you’ll probably end up back on the list of voters to contact.

The best way to end unwanted campaign outreach is to be honest, clear and kind. Don’t be a jerk, but don’t leave any wiggle room.

A few more things to keep in mind:

1. Most canvassers are volunteers! They’re nervous as hell. They’ve probably been yelled at once or twice already, especially by Trump supporters who like to go out of their way to mess with them. But they keep going because they care. Be nice!

2. Canvassers are not solicitors! Please don’t be offended that they’re not following your state’s lawd for solicitors. They’re legally allowed to knock and call later than salespeople. This election’s important, and they’re putting in long hours.

3. It’s legal and easy for campaigns to get your phone number and send unsolicited get out the vote texts.

If you don’t want these texts, reply STOP. You should get a response acknowledging receipt of your request, and the texts should stop. (best of luck w/ Trump campaign).

4. If you don’t want people to knock or ring your bell, now’s the time to put up a huge-ass sign over your doorbell that says “DO NOT KNOCK OR RING BELL.”

It helps to add something like BABY SLEEPING or DOGS WILL GO CRAZY or WE ALREADY VOTED.

Again, “no soliciting” won’t work.

5. Please consider being a cheerleader for campaign volunteers. Put up a yard sign so they know they’re entering friendly territory. Maybe tell them you don’t have time to talk, but you will vote, and you appreciate them. Leave out some bottled water, candy, band-aids, Kleenex.

6. Just because you already voted doesn’t mean every registered voter at your address or phone number already voted. Help them update their records by finding out who they’re looking for, and letting them know if someone no longer lives there or has that phone number!

7. Let canvassers be useful! If you’ve been meaning to google your polling place, let them tell you! Ask them about hours, and voter registration, and ballot issues. Don’t put off getting answers and making a plan when the answers literally knock on your door. Help them help you.

Canvassers are giving up hours, days and sometimes even weeks of their lives to make sure that if you can vote, you make a plan to vote, and you follow through and vote.

It’s often thankless work. But they put it all out there because they care.

Please be kind. And please vote.