If you're going to be doing campaign/GOTV work on election day, consider applying for an absentee ballot. It'll give you a lot more flexibility to go where you're needed for as long as you're needed.
I haven't voted in person in a presidential election since 2000. Every cycle (and some in between) I take my kids to a swing district and door-knock from Saturday through Tuesday.
In 2004, my plan was to drive home from Philly in time to vote in NYC before the polls closed, but I wound up putting in a full day and going to the (state leg) campaign's victory party, so I didn't get to vote.
Every presidential election since then, I've sent off my ballot by mail before I left to campaign. I downloaded the form for this year today.
If you can vote early, do—even if you're going to be around on election day. Something can always come up. Vote as soon as you can, and then it's done for sure.
Every state has different absentee rules and deadlines, so if you're going to be doing this, today would be a good day to nail down the details and procedures.
If you're not sure how it works in your state, ping me and I'll help you figure it out. The rules can be tricky.
Oh, and 2004 is my go-to reply when someone says "if you didn't vote, don't complain." I didn't vote, and I spent the next four years complaining. Damn right I did.
Voting is a big big deal, but it's a small part of what it means to be engaged in politics and social change. Ultimately, voting is just one small piece of how we get out of the mess we're in.
"I didn't vote in 2004..."
"Screw you! You're the problem!"
"...because I was dragging a toddler around a state leg district two states away from me, trying to flip it and nail down the state for the Dems."
"Oh."
But the thing is, there are a hundred reasons you might not vote.
"Screw you! You're the problem!"
"...because I was dragging a toddler around a state leg district two states away from me, trying to flip it and nail down the state for the Dems."
"Oh."
But the thing is, there are a hundred reasons you might not vote.
Go vote. And vote early so you can help other people vote. It's way more effective than getting mad at people who don't.
This year my kids and I are going to spend the Saturday and Sunday before election day trying to flip a long-shot WV congressional district, and Monday and Tuesday trying to bring home a tossup CD.
If you'd like to do something similar, but don't know how to get yourself plugged in, let me know and I'll help you out.
