Vote

Today is election day.  I know it's only the mid-terms and there is a tendency to view non-presidential elections as somehow less important.  

That could not be any further from the truth.  

At the national level, your Senator or Representative will have much more impact on your daily life than any president ever will.  Congress makes the laws, the president enforces them.  An oversimplification, but still a truth.  The men and women of Congress will be writing the laws we are complaining about months from now.  And the fact that there are far too many serving that have been in the office for too long, profited far too much off the office, and have lost their connection to the people gives us even more incentive to vote whenever they are up for election.

Most importantly, and often most overlooked, the local civic and school board elections will more directly impact to your day to day life than any national election.  They are writing the laws and policies that can have the most immediate impact on your community.

So, this is my plea - go vote.  It matters. It really does, more than you think. 

Don’t listen to the voices playing on your fear.  Our votes are generally very safe and free from fraud.  It naturally takes more than just tonight to count every vote and to know the outcome in certain tight elections. This is all normal and not a cause for undue alarm. 

If you need a voter guide for the national elections, there are several out there, like ivoterguide.com. A site like that can walk you through the ballot you will see.   There are likely local ballot information you can obtain out there as well. 

Vote, vote, vote. 

Election Day 2020

 

Today's the day.  If you have not yet voted, drop what you are doing and get out there and vote.  

No excuses. 

Work isn't an excuse.  In many states, there is job protection if you need to take time off and get to the polls.  Check here to see the protections in your state.

Vote.

If you don't have child care, bring them to the polls.  I saw many people having to do so when I waited in line.  Children are allowed, though some states have a limit on the number of children permitted to accompany a voter.  Check with your local commissioner if you are planning to bring more than one or two.

Vote.

If you don't know the times for the voting polling places, check out the information graphic below.

If you do not know where to go vote, check vote.org for your local polling place.

Vote.

If you are unsure who best represents your beliefs and interests, check votesmart.org or ontheissues.org for a breakdown.

Vote.

If you need a ride to a voting location, Uber and Lyft are giving free rides to the polls.

Vote.

Be sure to bring a photo id with you to vote. The seven forms of primary identification are listed on votetexas.gov and include a passport, a driver’s license, a certificate of citizenship, a handgun license, a military ID card, personal identification card, and a voter’s ID certification.  Check what is required in your state.

Vote.

If you do not have one of these forms of identification, you can still vote with one of the secondary forms of identification available like a current utility bill and by filling out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration regarding why you cannot have one of the primary identifications. Even if you cannot make a reasonable declaration, you can still vote on a provisional ballot.

Vote.

If you run into any problems at the polls, at least ask to vote on a provisional ballot.  Verbatim, ask the following "Give me a provisional ballot with a receipt as required by law."  This will at least allow you to mark your vote and will give you six days to resolve the identification issue.

Vote.

If you cannot walk into the polling location, have someone go in and ask for a curbside ballot for you.  It should be available to anyone who has difficulty walking and standing in line for long periods of time.  If you need any other assistance in voting, make sure you know your rights in that regard.

Vote.

This is by far the most important national election of our lifetimes.  It is imperative that we exercise the most fundamental right that we have in this country and raise our voices.  We are already seeing record voter turnout in this election and that is a win regardless of who is ultimately named the victor.

Be prepared, we may not have a clear winner announced this evening.  That is not a bug in the system, it is not a failure - it's a feature.  We must be vigilant that every vote counts.  

I know it's tiring; I know we want this to all be over.  My prayer is that the results are so overwhelming that there is a clear decisive victory.  That the map is completely blue and reflects a sound refutation and repudiation of all that Donald Trump stands for.  That it is too overwhelming to ignore.  But I recognize that decisive of an election is likely not in the cards tonight.  We are potentially in for a long haul.  We're up to this fight and we will make sure every vote counts.

This year we are celebrating 100 years of women's suffrage.  I cannot think of a better way to celebrate the ultimate granting of a right that women should have always had than for America to finally show up with an overwhelming majority of active voter participation.

Your voice matters.

Your vote matters.

Get out there, and get to it.

Vote like your life depends on it, because it likely does.

VOTE!

Vote, No Excuses

Today is the day.  Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Election Day.

Today it is imperative that everyone get out and vote. Not because there will be impending doom if you do not. Rather because every election matters. Because we need to remind everyone where the power belongs in this country - with the people. The people have been silent for far too long and we have seen far too much power taken away from us. Our vote is our reminder to the politicians that they work for us and are supposed to be promoting the best interests of all of us.

There are no excuses not to get out to vote today.

If you do not know where to go vote, check vote.org for your local polling place.

If you are unsure who best represents your beliefs and interests, check votesmart.org or ontheissues.org for a breakdown.

I won’t make any recommendations on who to vote for, other than to say do not utilize the straight party option. Vote for the candidates who best represent you regardless of party. Remember you are electing them to be your voice, so they should well reflect your beliefs.  Even if you end up marking all of the same party, go through the process of bubbling in every one, so you associate the candidate with the position.

If you need a ride to a voting location, Uber and Lyftare giving free rides to the polls.

If you are working in Texas, your employer must give you time off to vote, up to two hours.

Be sure to bring a photo id with you to vote. The sevenforms of primary identification are listed on votetexas.gov and include a passport, a driver’s license, a certificate of citizenship, a handgun license, a military ID card, personal identification card, and a voter’s ID certification.

If you do not have one of these forms of identification, you can still vote with one of the secondary forms of identification available like a current utility bill and by filling out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration regarding why you cannot have one of the primary identifications. Even if you cannot make a reasonable declaration, you can still vote on a provisional ballot.

If you run into any problems at the polls, at least ask to vote on a provisional ballot.  This will at least allow you to mark your vote and will give you six days to resolve the identification issue.

If you cannot walk into the polling location, have someone go in and ask for a curbside ballot for you.  It should be available to anyone who has difficulty walking and standing in line for long periods of time.  If you need any other assistance in voting, make sure you know your rights in that regard.

Vote.

Vote.

I cannot say it enough.

Vote.

Your voice matters. Make sure it is heard.