Thanks Joyce. I had my first training to become a poll worker starting with our primary on Aug 23. I have definitely been motivated to do this because of the big lie. It’s a small part but important work.
"Since we’re at the 100 day mark, I’ll share a tip tonight that I hope you’ll pass on to friends: if you’re registered, you can’t be removed from the voter rolls, or from status as an active voter, once we are less than 90 days out from the election. Since we don’t want any surprises when we go in to vote, put a reminder on your calendar to check your status sometime in mid to late August, after we hit the 90 day mark. Go to vote.org and take a screen shot so you have a record of your status as an active voter."
I am committed to get voters registered in this red state. It's not the nightmare one might think. Anytime i hear dismay re: Roe, i ask if they are registered. If not, i hand them the form and offer to help them complete it. I tell them candidates who are pro- Roe, when the November election is and to be sure to elect those who represent their views on these critical issues. Then add something like, Roe Roe Roe your Vote. I've gotten many registered and others that have reached out for info. Some are even watching the Jan. 6th hearings. (Red state, remember). It's all local!! Many here are fighting for a woman's autonomy over her body. Yay.
Thanks so much, Joyce. My suggestion is not one that will make an impact in the short term but it’s a long term strategy that I urge everyone to employ (as I do and as my parents did before me): take your kids (or grandkids) with you to vote. Every single time, take your kids with you. Don’t wait to vote until they are asleep or in school or at an activity. Let them see with their own eyes (rather than just hear it from you or others) how important voting is. My kids have been raised in a culture of voting and are both suitably outraged that some people are prevented from doing what we do so regularly and easily *and* flabbergasted that other people choose not to vote even though they are eligible. (I have also taken my kids with me to help canvass and hold signs for candidates, both friends running for local office and more well known folks running for state or Federal office. My then 7YO daughter even got one very grouchy man in NH to pinky promise her he’d vote for Hillary in 2016!)
Thanks Joyce. Great suggestion. This year as a newly retired woman I want to be involved in the election. Finally, I have the time and want to be engaged. I enjoy your articles and learn alot! Thanks again!.
I just took your advice with your first tip about checking voter registration and am spreading it far and wide. I work with the Public Policy Committees of my state and local organizations. I follow you on MSNBC, always enjoying your logical commentary.
That is terrific guidance, Joyce. I work the polls for the elections in my district. It is frustrating for everyone when someone shows up to vote and is not in the registered voter book. I have seen it with people who have lived in the neighborhood for years and newcomers. There does not seem to be any logic in why someone is not in the book. I have seen people who have lived here for 30+ years and regularly vote not to be on the rolls, and newcomers with a registration card not be in the book. We let those people submit provisional ballots, but it stresses the voter (Will my vote be counted?) and creates extra work for the poll workers at the end of a 14-hour day. I have shared your post with our polling place's Judge (boss). I am sure your guidance will be shared widely in Pittsburgh. I am thankful for your thoughtful, insightful, and entertaining work here and on MSNBC.
The right to vote is really the core of our system. We have been far from perfect at it, but those who preceded us have worked together to make it better and we should be no different from them. To that end, I also follow Marc Elias and the team at Democracy Docket. He is working this area of law very intently and I recommend people take a look at their work to get an understanding of what has been happening regarding voting rights, redistricting, and challenges to elections. It has been eye opening to say the least.
Also, a gripe about our election processes. In Florida, to vote in a primary you have to belong to a political party and you can only vote for the candidates within that party during that primary (closed primary system). This is annoying to say the least and it allows very poor quality candidates to get on the ballot. But we also have a number of non-party affiliated elected positions, like school board members and judges at the county level. These positions will also show up on our Primary election ballots. My real gripe is that finding good information about these people, who often use that first elected position to run for higher office, is very hard to do. Imagine looking at the docket for a traffic court judge to see if you should vote to move them to a criminal court? Or the judge who handles divorce court? So, if anyone has found a good method of evaluating these candidates, please pass it on. Their websites are only so good and local papers have paywalls in front of candidate data. Thank you.
I think we need to have a conversation about how to hold a voter registration drive without running afoul of the laws in your state. If I understand it right, these things vary widely from state to state, but perhaps a discussion of how to find out what the rules are in your state so that you can help people register and not have those registrations thrown out.
I did not realize the need to be so protective of my right to vote.
Many thanks for your cautionary letter this morning.
I live in Portland Oregon where, I believe, we are all automatically registered to vote.
At least for the past few voting sequences I have always received a big thick voter pamphlet detailing all the candidates and issues.
So I guess I have been, "Asleep-At-The-Wheel" in verifying my registration status. Now, thanks to you Joyce, I am wide awake and very watchfully active in verification and maintenance of my status.
I pray daily that we will rid ourselves of every trump supported in our government as fast as we can!
Posted the hint on twitter. Thanks for being so focused. I have been recommending that folks find a Buddy to vote with and make a plan for going together on Election Day. It’s harder to be busy or let it slide when you have made a plan with someone. Like working out, you show up when someone else is expecting you. I think this is so very important for folks who have to go after work or at lunch time.
i started checking my registration often after i read a post of yours before the last election. marked my calendar to check. i’ll share on twitter too.
i might be behind - there is a chicken conspiracy?
Thanks Joyce. I had my first training to become a poll worker starting with our primary on Aug 23. I have definitely been motivated to do this because of the big lie. It’s a small part but important work.
Thank you, Joyce, for your column and tip.
"Since we’re at the 100 day mark, I’ll share a tip tonight that I hope you’ll pass on to friends: if you’re registered, you can’t be removed from the voter rolls, or from status as an active voter, once we are less than 90 days out from the election. Since we don’t want any surprises when we go in to vote, put a reminder on your calendar to check your status sometime in mid to late August, after we hit the 90 day mark. Go to vote.org and take a screen shot so you have a record of your status as an active voter."
I am committed to get voters registered in this red state. It's not the nightmare one might think. Anytime i hear dismay re: Roe, i ask if they are registered. If not, i hand them the form and offer to help them complete it. I tell them candidates who are pro- Roe, when the November election is and to be sure to elect those who represent their views on these critical issues. Then add something like, Roe Roe Roe your Vote. I've gotten many registered and others that have reached out for info. Some are even watching the Jan. 6th hearings. (Red state, remember). It's all local!! Many here are fighting for a woman's autonomy over her body. Yay.
Thanks so much, Joyce. My suggestion is not one that will make an impact in the short term but it’s a long term strategy that I urge everyone to employ (as I do and as my parents did before me): take your kids (or grandkids) with you to vote. Every single time, take your kids with you. Don’t wait to vote until they are asleep or in school or at an activity. Let them see with their own eyes (rather than just hear it from you or others) how important voting is. My kids have been raised in a culture of voting and are both suitably outraged that some people are prevented from doing what we do so regularly and easily *and* flabbergasted that other people choose not to vote even though they are eligible. (I have also taken my kids with me to help canvass and hold signs for candidates, both friends running for local office and more well known folks running for state or Federal office. My then 7YO daughter even got one very grouchy man in NH to pinky promise her he’d vote for Hillary in 2016!)
Thanks Joyce. Great suggestion. This year as a newly retired woman I want to be involved in the election. Finally, I have the time and want to be engaged. I enjoy your articles and learn alot! Thanks again!.
Sandi
I just took your advice with your first tip about checking voter registration and am spreading it far and wide. I work with the Public Policy Committees of my state and local organizations. I follow you on MSNBC, always enjoying your logical commentary.
Thanks for all you’re doing! Looking forward to hearing more from you and others in the days ahead.
Always keep the Election Protection Hotline number at hand.
866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) national
For state hotlines, https://866ourvote.org/states/
That is terrific guidance, Joyce. I work the polls for the elections in my district. It is frustrating for everyone when someone shows up to vote and is not in the registered voter book. I have seen it with people who have lived in the neighborhood for years and newcomers. There does not seem to be any logic in why someone is not in the book. I have seen people who have lived here for 30+ years and regularly vote not to be on the rolls, and newcomers with a registration card not be in the book. We let those people submit provisional ballots, but it stresses the voter (Will my vote be counted?) and creates extra work for the poll workers at the end of a 14-hour day. I have shared your post with our polling place's Judge (boss). I am sure your guidance will be shared widely in Pittsburgh. I am thankful for your thoughtful, insightful, and entertaining work here and on MSNBC.
Thank you Joyce. You are too kind.
The right to vote is really the core of our system. We have been far from perfect at it, but those who preceded us have worked together to make it better and we should be no different from them. To that end, I also follow Marc Elias and the team at Democracy Docket. He is working this area of law very intently and I recommend people take a look at their work to get an understanding of what has been happening regarding voting rights, redistricting, and challenges to elections. It has been eye opening to say the least.
Also, a gripe about our election processes. In Florida, to vote in a primary you have to belong to a political party and you can only vote for the candidates within that party during that primary (closed primary system). This is annoying to say the least and it allows very poor quality candidates to get on the ballot. But we also have a number of non-party affiliated elected positions, like school board members and judges at the county level. These positions will also show up on our Primary election ballots. My real gripe is that finding good information about these people, who often use that first elected position to run for higher office, is very hard to do. Imagine looking at the docket for a traffic court judge to see if you should vote to move them to a criminal court? Or the judge who handles divorce court? So, if anyone has found a good method of evaluating these candidates, please pass it on. Their websites are only so good and local papers have paywalls in front of candidate data. Thank you.
Finally, I saw this on Twitter and am passing on the link. https://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Diapers-and-Saddles/Chicken-Harness-p615.aspx
Yes, it's a harness to walk your pet chicken.
I think we need to have a conversation about how to hold a voter registration drive without running afoul of the laws in your state. If I understand it right, these things vary widely from state to state, but perhaps a discussion of how to find out what the rules are in your state so that you can help people register and not have those registrations thrown out.
Good Sunday morning Joyce:
I did not realize the need to be so protective of my right to vote.
Many thanks for your cautionary letter this morning.
I live in Portland Oregon where, I believe, we are all automatically registered to vote.
At least for the past few voting sequences I have always received a big thick voter pamphlet detailing all the candidates and issues.
So I guess I have been, "Asleep-At-The-Wheel" in verifying my registration status. Now, thanks to you Joyce, I am wide awake and very watchfully active in verification and maintenance of my status.
I pray daily that we will rid ourselves of every trump supported in our government as fast as we can!
Thank you Joyce!
Posted the hint on twitter. Thanks for being so focused. I have been recommending that folks find a Buddy to vote with and make a plan for going together on Election Day. It’s harder to be busy or let it slide when you have made a plan with someone. Like working out, you show up when someone else is expecting you. I think this is so very important for folks who have to go after work or at lunch time.
I can’t wait to read your suggestions for helping others to vote!
i started checking my registration often after i read a post of yours before the last election. marked my calendar to check. i’ll share on twitter too.
i might be behind - there is a chicken conspiracy?
Thank you for this community, Joyce. And thank you for the voter registration tips.