Dear Democrats - and particularly Florida Democrats, can you pull up a chair for a second? We need to have a little chat about voting, and specifically vote by mail ballots.
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I understand everyone's concerns about this election, especially given Trump's admissions regarding the USPS. Yes we should raise Hell. Yes we should push Congress to step in. Yes we should double down on voter protection efforts. But what we can't do: play into their game 2/
Trump and his campaign want people to believe their vote is at risk. They want people to lose confidence. They know that if you are reading this, you are going to vote regardless -- but they want your less active friends to believe their vote doesn't matter. 3/
Voter confidence is a fickle thing. When we started in Florida in 08, we had real issues getting people to vote by mail. People had real scars from 2000 here. Republicans added to the issues by adding a voter ID law. There was a lot of anxiety around voting. 4/
We knew we had to build confidence. Remind people they could vote other ways if they didn't want to vote by mail. Teach people how to get an ID if they didn't have one. Put poll watchers in polls - give people a sense we had their back & their vote would count. 5/
So if you want to vote by mail -- you should and so should your friends. Tell them to do this:
1. Request it now.
2. Return it immediately. Why they heck would you wait?
3. Track it online.
In every battleground state, you can track your ballot online. So do that. 6/
1. Request it now.
2. Return it immediately. Why they heck would you wait?
3. Track it online.
In every battleground state, you can track your ballot online. So do that. 6/
If your friends want to vote from home, but are worried about mailing back their ballot. Tell them.
1. Request it now.
2. Vote immediately upon receipt.
3. Go to their local SOE website on where/how to drop off.
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1. Request it now.
2. Vote immediately upon receipt.
3. Go to their local SOE website on where/how to drop off.
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If you or your friends want to vote in person, that's great too. Remind them that there are a lot of groups working with states and local communities to ensure proper sanitation and health standards.
Go to iwillvote.com to learn your options. 8/
Go to iwillvote.com to learn your options. 8/
But the point is this - we can't let them win the game of crushing voter confidence. That is absolutely how Trump will win. You want to win - tune all the bull shit out and remind folks that if we blow this out, none of the other stuff will matter. 9/
Remember the words of John Lewis: "We cannot give up now, we cannot give up. We must keep the faith, keep our eyes on the prize. We must go out and vote like we never, ever voted before...We must use the vote as a nonviolent instrument or tool to redeem the soul of America.” 10/
Thanks for giving me a few minutes of your Saturday. Now, in the words of my former boss @davidplouffe - let’s go win the fucking thing. 11/11
