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What can we do to support voter turnout in the US elections this fall?
There is an important election in the United States this fall, and we've all heard a lot of concern expressed about efforts to suppress the vote. Under the shadow of all the other issues we're currently facing as a society, I know a lot of people who are asking "what concrete actions can I take to make a difference?" It seems like helping to get out the vote is one very important action.
So here's a question to the Tildes community: what suggestions do you have about how we (as individuals) can help get out the vote this fall? Big or small, donating money or doing physical work -- what can we do?
And check it often. Make sure the people in your personal network do the same. I check about once a month because I've lived in a state that purges people regularly. Thankfully my current state has a surprisingly democratic process for how red it is.
For the privacy minded, I actually recommend going directly to the NASS website and finding your state’s voter registration page, rather than going through a private organization. Not that I’ve heard anything bad about vote.org, but the last time this came up on Tildes I (seem) to remember the consensus being that they would not share your data but it wasn’t written into their founding documents etc.
For your family et al., where easy is king, it’s probably fine, though my state’s website is surprisingly easy and good as well.
I have been offering to print and deliver absentee ballot request forms in my state (North Carolina). This is the sort of thing most office workers would print at the office, since hardly anybody I know owns a printer.
I'm also working the polls for the general election this year.
One way would be to volunteer with the Democrats to either call or text people in swing states. (Assuming defeating Trump is your goal.)
I was walking down the street a few weeks ago when this group of 20 somethings walked past and I briefly heard one of the guys (sort of a tall dude, was talking pretty loudly, probably an obnoxious type steamrolling the conversation) say "...nah I'm definitely not voting...", and one of the shorter girls in the groups responded with "yeah" or some form of confirmation to him.
I feel like the BLM protests have brought to light how stupid and opportunistic these anarchist types are. Their ideas are nihilistic and appeal to the masses of lazy ass kids since nihilism requires absolutely nothing of them. They think saying fuck the system is cool, and not participating is the only way to bring down such an oppressive regime. They seriously believe the path of least resistence is the going to be the conduit of change in this country. That by vehemetly doing nothing while simultaneouly spending more and more money on superficial consummerist shit (think streetwear, vaporwave, fast food as a personality trait, etc...) they're going to lead the way to a brighter future.
I have no idea how to reach these people. I've thought maybe putting up flyers around my city with messages directed at them might help? Messages like "Do anarchists vote? How fighting the system requires participation on all fronts. How could it possibly hurt?". Who knows though. I know I've generalized and maybe strawmanned a little here, but it does kind of feel like these younger folks have no desire to do anything besides yell a bit and continue on. I'd love to be proven wrong or if someone has a more informed position on this specific issue.
I think this is a fine example of the Fundamental attribution error. Which is not to say that some people aren't lazy, but painting with a broad brush like that seems uncalled for. Everyone is a rational actor within their own frame of context. There are a myriad list of reasons why someone is too busy, too exhausted, to disillusioned to go vote.
I do think we need higher incentives that get people to the polls. Making voting day a national holiday. Give people a $20 tax credit if they vote. Simple things like that can have huge effects. I don't agree that maintaining your citizenship should be dependent on voting, though I understand the reasoning behind that idea.
Help Trump in any way possible to convince all of his supporters that the election has been cancelled so they don't show up. Since he seems to be doing exactly that, I see no reason not to support it.