- Grayson Hoffman
Down to the Wire: Tips & Tricks for the Final Days of the 2020 Election
We are just five days away from the end of voting in the most important election of our lifetimes.
There is no way to know exactly when we will have winners announced because of the record-breaking number of early voters and mail-in ballots (1). It is possible that results might look very different on Election Day as opposed to when all ballots are counted (2). However, we do know that the last day to make your voice heard is THIS Tuesday, November 3rd. Simultaneously, this year has flown by and dragged on slowly. Our democracy has been tested every day and events are taking mental and physical tolls on so many.
With voter suppression running rampant, COVID-19 casualties rising, more police violence against unarmed Black citizens, and the hypocritical, sham confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, cementing a 6-3 conservative majority, in place of Justice Ginsburg (after over 60 million Americans had already voted), people are tired and furious (3). I urge you to channel that anger as much as possible into impacting these last days.
The entire nation and world will have its eyes on the outcome of our election in the coming weeks. We have to get this done.
I’d like to share some final tips, tricks, and ideas for getting yourself through the end of this exhausting, frustrating, inspiring roller-coast of an election cycle and maximizing your impact in the last weekend of Get Out the Vote (GOTV) across the country.
Final Ways to Get Involved
1. VOTE!!!!
Make sure you have a plan in place for yourself to vote if you have not already done so
It is too late to mail back your ballot so you must drop it off in-person or vote in-person on Election Day
Tip: check out iwillvote.com to see where your polling place and/or ballot drop-box are located
2. Phonebank for your favorite candidate
It is NOT TOO LATE to make calls - in fact, calling this weekend is super important to make sure people turn out to vote Tuesday
Pick your favorite female candidate - especially those who could win close Senate races and flip the Senate Blue
Tight Senate races: Barbara Bollier (KS), Sara Gideon (ME), Theresa Greenfield (IA), MJ Hegar (TX), Amy McGrath (KY)
Other Senate candidates in tight races: Steve Bullock (MT), Cal Cullingham (NC), Jaime Harrison (SC), John Hickenlooper (CO), Mark Kelly (AZ), Jon Ossoff (GA), Raphael Warnock (GA)
Trick - Google: [candidate name] + [phonebank] + [Mobilize]
3. Phonebank into your choice of swing state (4)
Current “toss-up” states: Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, North Carolina, Texas
Current swing states that are leaning Blue, but still need to ensure turnout: Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin
Trick - Google: [state] + [phonbank] + [Mobilize]
4. Phonebank for Victory 2020 (Biden/Harris campaign)
Then you don’t have to pick a state - they’ll do it for you: check out the how-to here!
5. Make sure everyone you know has voted or has a concrete plan to vote
Oftentimes, you assume the people close to you have definitely voted, but this isn't always the case!
Make plans with friends and family to drop of their absentee ballot in person or vote on Election Day
If you haven’t voted yet, create a voting crew and go to the polls together!
6. Donate!
Campaigns still need funds through Election Day so they can be successful
Donate whatever you can --> even $5 dollars helps candidates greatly - especially because many Democratic campaigns depend on grassroots donors to win
Ways to Protect Your Mental Health in the Last 5 Days & Beyond:
(Especially while we might still be waiting for results):
1. Make sure you're giving your body the basics it needs to function properly!
Staying hydrated, eating food, trying to sleep, taking deep breaths, being gentle with yourself and your potentially scrambled brain, wearing a mask/PPE if applicable
2. GOTV is mostly online this year… take screen breaks throughout volunteering
3. Take breaks on Election Day and the days that follow from checking Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and results in general
4. Listen to soul-feeding podcasts (that are political, but also hopeful and joyful) - here are some of my favorites right now:
Mandana Dayani and Debra Messing’s The Dissenters: some of my favorite episodes are the ones featuring: Secretary Hillary Clinton, Jameela Jamil, Rep. Adam Schiff (CA-28), and the “RBG Tribute Episode”
The Michelle Obama Podcast: every episode is incredible, but these feel especially timely: “Working Women,” “What Your Mother Never Told You About Health,” and “Protests and the Pandemic”
You and Me Both with Hillary Clinton: I loved the episode featuring Senator Kamala Harris
5. Watch inspiring documentaries featuring incredible women:
Knock Down the House: follows four women in MO, NV, NY, and WV who ran for Congress in 2018; including Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), current House candidate Cori Bush (MO-01), and current Senate candidate Paula Jean Swearengin (WV)
Surge: follows three women candidates in IL, IN, and TX who each ran in the historic, barrier-breaking 2018 midterm elections; including Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14)
Becoming: follows Michelle Obama on nationwide book tour
Images (from left to right): Knock Down the House, Surge, Becoming
6. Immerse yourself in the politics of alternate worlds/times
I always suggest The West Wing - including their 2020 reunion special that benefitted When We All Vote (on HBOMax with a free week subscription)
Lin Manuel Miranda’s hit musical Hamilton, which shows us how America could be, is available to watch in awe (on Disney+ with a free week subscription)
Friends of mine prefer Veep or Parks and Recreation - so many great options!
7. Read books by your favorite politicians, activists, or academics
Personally, I will be pre-ordering President Obama’s newest book: A Promised Land (try to order from independent bookstores struggling during COVID-19)
In the meantime, I might revisit older favorites like Michelle Obama’s Becoming and Cleo Wade’s Where to Begin
I’m also looking forward to reading Thank You for Voting: The Maddening, Enlightening, Inspiring Truth About Voting In America by Erin Gieger Smith
Take care of yourselves and keep up the fight until the very end! There is still so much to be done in these last FIVE (5) days that can change the outcome of the election. Every single Democrat -- from Joe Biden and Kamala Harris down the ballot to your local school board -needs your help right now. Let’s take back the White House and Senate, keep the House of Representatives, and restore democracy, decency, and hope to our country.
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