Voting 101 - A Plan for 2020
What’s your plan? The Who What Where When How
Find the details relevant to your location on vote.org and votesaveamerica.com. Making a plan is a critical part of voting. Oftentimes, without a plan, life gets in the way and challenges arise, making the last minute rush to the polls not only stressful, but even unsuccessful. When you’re thinking about your voting plan, as yourself the following questions:
What time will you be voting?
Where are you voting?
Do you have a mail-in ballot or are you going to the polls?
How are you getting there?
Do you need a ride?
Who else can you bring with you?
Do you need to take off work or secure childcare?
In states with voter I.D. laws: Do you have all the necessary documents to vote?
VoteSaveAmerica has all your resources for deadlines, registering to vote, and locating your polling place. Make a plan, bring your friends, drop off your family’s ballots (if allowed), and always bring ID (even when it’s not required). Voter intimidation and suppression is real in many places. The best thing you can do is be informed and know your rights.
Find similar information and sign up for election reminders at Vote.org
Down Ballot Voting #NoShame
While it's appalling that anyone would politicize the fight to protect our oceans or the land which provides the necessary nourishment we need to survive, politicians thrive on control and fake media. Luckily, the scientific method isn’t fake, so vote for science, and vote for politicians who are willing to listen to peer-reviewed studies and those who have devoted their life to pursuing scientific knowledge. The easiest way to protect our environment and mitigate climate change is to vote for Democrats from the top of the ballot all the way to the bottom. Democrats have consistently proven that they are willing to listen to experts and scientists when it comes to making environmental regulations and change.
State Propositions and Measures
Check out your local and/or state democratic party website for an easy cheat sheet.
The Progressive Voters Guide is a great source to determine what’s real, what is misinformation, and who is funding these items on your ticket.
Progressive Voters Guide is a great source for candidate research and endorsements to cast an informed vote. Learn about misinformation and who is funding the propositions on your ticket.
If you want a more personalized/decide for yourself approach, Ballotpedia is an online version of your voter guide that is carefully curated by experts. They remain neutral and their goal is to inform people with accurate information about politics at all levels.
How to spot a wolf in sheep’s clothing
It’s not uncommon to have Dem on Dem races, particularly in big cities and blue states. Typically, there is one person on the ticket who is a Republican disguised as a Democrat. How do you know which is which?
Start with the propositions you have already researched. Figure out where you align, and compare them to the measures and propositions that the candidates endorse. This is a great way of comparing your values with those of the candidates.
You can also check out other local political organizations to get their opinion on certain topics. The Sierra Club has chapters nationwide that provide voting resources and endorsements on a local level.
Non-Politicized Races (judges, city council, etc)
Visit candidates’ websites and see their stances on measures and propositions. Use your information from before to guide you to choose the candidates which most easily support the causes you care about most.
Showing Up
Remember, it’s okay to bring your phone into the voting booth with you if you’re voting in person. This is a great way to look up information that you might not have. Better yet, bring a filled out sample ballot in advance. Lines are long in lots of states and cities, so the sooner you can fill out your ballot accurately, the sooner someone else can get in there and vote too. You’ve got this! #ISURFIVOTE