|
Dear Group,
Is there anything else you can do?
Several times now I’ve heard Lisa say, “If everyone here contacts just ten friends to urge them to vote, it could make the difference we need.”
My old pessimistic self said, “Oh, come on. All the friends I can think of are surely going to vote for Lisa anyway.” I was wrong. Again.
I contacted old friends, a retired judge and his wife, people I know are of a liberal bent, to ask for some insight on the elections involving judges. It turns out they are in the middle a two month walking pilgrimage in Europe. I contacted them by email. I got the information I needed. Then I wondered, “Did they manage to vote?” So I asked.
“No, we left before absentee ballots were available.”
With a little digging around on the Spokane County website I determined that on MyVote.wa.gov a registered voter in Washington State can sign on, print out their ballot, and submit it by mail. It should be counted if it is postmarked before 8PM on Tuesday, November 6. The response to this information? “Will do!” That’s two more votes…
Another couple of a liberal bent had recently moved. Any other election I would not have asked, but this time I did, “Was your ballot forwarded or did you have a chance in all your turmoil to change your voting address?” It had not and they hadn’t had the time. We talked about the importance of every vote in this election. I explained they can still go down to the County Elections Office at 1033 W. Gardner Ave, Spokane and cast a provisional ballot OR, a little like the old days of precinct voting, they can go down on election day, next Tuesday, to one of six Voter Service Center locations in Spokane County between 7AM and 8PM (see the list below) and cast a “provisional” ballot there. Two more votes.
We are privileged in the State of Washington to have a voting system that is remarkably secure and strives to include, not exclude. We do not have Kris Kobach (the infamous Republican pusher of the false narrative of voter fraud) here. If you’ve had a scrape with the law and have paid your debt to society you can register and vote. If you’ve lost your ballot and it’s down to the wire on election night, you didn’t get it together to do your homework ahead of time, there are even places to go where you can still vote right up to 8PM (as long as you’re already registered). You can check out your ballot’s status on MyVote.wa.gov.
We have these options…and many of us are unaware. Spread the word. Call ten friends, like Lisa suggests. Ask if they managed to vote yet. Tell them an anecdote about what you now know of our voting options. Tell them how important it is to you that they manage to cast their ballot in this election.
Keep to the high ground,
Jerry
|