To be clear, this election IS rigged - but only because eligible voters are being denied their right to vote.
Millions are already voting and it’s not going well. They are being taken off the rolls in North Carolina because their address changed. Across the country they are being barred from voting because their presented gender doesn’t match their ID card. In Wisconsin, they have limited access to polling places because Republican officials have determined that having more voting locations helps Democrats. In Ohio, their ballots are being thrown out if a voter makes a single clerical error. Voter registration drives are being raided by police in Indiana….and this is also the first election in 50 years without the full protection of the Voting Rights Act.
So, that’s the lay of the land - and it’s not even election day yet.
Voter suppression is how democracy ends. If you have been denied your right to vote, report it immediately and get help by calling Election Protection at 866-OUR-VOTE. If you have questions about the voter ID laws in your state, call the VoteRider’s national voter ID hotline at 844-338-8743.
The best way to counter voter suppression this close to the election is to volunteer to help get out the vote. NextGen Climate is currently running a $25 million get out the vote campaign with a heavy focus on turning out young Americans concerned about climate change, reproductive rights, criminal justice reform and other major issues that will impact their future. They are driving college students to the polls, enlisting volunteers to call voters in swing states from the comfort of their own homes, providing Get Out the Vote strategy calls for all volunteers and producing videos with celebrities to appeal to undecideds and those thinking about staying home. Full disclosure, this organization does favor Hillary Clinton - but their primary goal is getting voters to the polls, period.
Sign up to be a volunteer to help get out the vote at nextgenclimate.org/volunteer.
Today and after November 8th, we encourage you to make fighting voter suppression and restoring the Voting Rights Act part of your theory of change by getting involved in the long term with organizations like The Brennan Center for Justice, Democracy Awakening, Democracy Spring, Voto Latino, Advancement Project, NAACP and other organizations fighting to make democracy work for everyone.
So if having a real democracy that works is important to you, then be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about the Getting Out the Vote & Reporting Voter Suppression via social media so that others in your network can take action too.
Spread these #'s far and wide to #ProtectTheVote during the 1st #PresidentialElection in 50 yrs w/o the #VotingRightsAct's full protections. pic.twitter.com/cfpDt7avMi
— Democracy Awakening (@DemAwakening) October 26, 2016
TAKE ACTION
Volunteer to help get out the vote with NextGen Climate
Report voter suppression by calling Election Protection at 866-OUR-VOTE
Ask questions about voter ID laws by calling VoteRider’s national voter ID hotline at 844-338-8743.
EDUCATE YOURSELF
This Election Is Being Rigged—but Not by Democrats (The Nation)
North Carolina Republicans Tried to Disenfranchise a 100-Year-Old African-American Woman (The Nation)
Possible Election Day problems worry civil rights advocates (PBS Newshour)
‘The most chaotic election for people of color in 50 years,’ activist predicts (Star Telegram)
What we often forget when we talk about voting restrictions: the actual voters (Vox)
Indiana officials are trying to block almost 45,000 black citizens from voting (ThinkProgress)
Election 2016: Tracking Reports of Voting Problems Across the United States (NBC News)
This Is What Actual Voter Suppression Looks Like, And It’s Appalling (Huffington Post)
Trans Voters May Face Problems Voting in U.S. Election, Activists Say (NBC News)
Nevada elections chief refuses to accommodate Native Americans who have to drive 200 miles to vote (ThinkProgress)
Posted October 28, 2016. Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman.
Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1053: "The real way elections get rigged"