The Election Has Started — A Quick, Actionable List of What You Can Do
By Sarah M. Williams , Co-Founder and CEO, Propel
“Don’t be distracted by emotions like anger, envy, resentment. These just zap energy and waste time.”
— Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The 2020 election has begun. By Thursday of this week, more than half of US states will have mailed out their absentee ballots, and in eight other states people have begun voting. In Virginia, hundreds of people waited on line September 18th for the first day of voting. We all know the stakes couldn’t be higher. And while there is amazing energy and motivation fueled by new revelations every day ($70,000 in tax deductions for hair styling?! $421m in debt to unidentified lenders?!), there is energy and motivation on the other side as well. In Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, registration is up by 6 points but net Democratic registrations are down by 38 percent. So there is no time to waste. A lot of you are asking what you can do — here’s a quick, actionable list.
- First, if you have the resources, your money can still make a significant difference.
- Win Justice, a powerful coalition with Planned Parenthood, Color of Change, and others working to expand the electorate by mobilizing three million voters of color, young people, and women in four states — FL, MN, NV, and WI — is focusing resources in districts where these constituencies can help provide the margin of victory. Win Justice is an especially important voice right now. Donate here.
- The Frontline, a growing effort across the Movement for Black Lives Electoral Justice Project, United We Dream, Working Families Party, and others is training their nationwide team of engaged volunteers to serve as essential frontline advocates and poll workers in the coming weeks. With election season likely to stretch out until January, your support helps ensure a fair election with results that are respected through November 3 and beyond. For information on donating, email us at info@propelcapital.org.
- Fair Fight Action — Stacey Abrams started Fair Fight in 2018 to protect citizens in Georgia from widespread voter suppression efforts. FFA has since expanded its work into 18 states where it has established voter protection teams dedicated to ensuring that all eligible citizens can vote. Those teams will be stationed at polling places to protect against voter suppression.
2. If you have time to offer, sign up to volunteer.
- Swing Left, Care in Action, Sister District, and Fuera Trump are each organizing volunteers to ensure that every possible voter in key races is mobilized and has a plan to vote.
- If you’re concerned about voter suppression, sign up to be a poll worker, get trained to become an Election Defender, or work with Fair Fight to protect the vote.
- If you’re looking for specific states or candidates to support, our partner Mobilize powers an easily searchable database of election-related actions happening across the country.
3. Finally, if you haven’t already voted, please make your own plan to vote and, if possible and safe, vote early in person. Visit Vote.org right now and confirm that you are on the rolls. Reach out to five (or more!) friends and loved ones in key states and help them make their voting plan. Then track your ballots to make sure they are counted.
We continue to weather crisis after crisis, because we know that this fight needs all of us. Think what might be possible in January and beyond if we do everything we can now.
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To find out more about Propel Democracy and our partners visit propelcapital.org/democracy.
