Have you seen the photographs and news footage of people standing in long lines — ridiculously, prohibitively, intimidatingly long lines — waiting to vote? I did, and found myself furious all over again. It is beyond absurd.
At this point, there’s little we can do to remove state-imposed barriers to voting. Voters in those states must help themselves by voting out the legislators, the Secretaries of State, and the Governors who erected those barriers as soon as opportunity presents itself. But we can help ease the burdens of hunger and thirst on those voters waiting hours and hours to vote, whatever the party they support.
There are several initiatives planning to bring some refreshment to the places it is needed. For example, Feed The Polls (covered by the Washington Post), is partnering with Migrant Kitchen and Zagat Guides/The Infatuation to feed voters in Philly and Miami. Pizza to the Polls is on track to bring pizza slices to patient voters in 31 states.
I’ve been listening to NPR describe voter queues while I toil away at clearing Timothy’s office of his books and papers, sheet music and photographs. I thought I’d cleaned out his nightstand last year, but I hadn’t. When I finally dove into the drawers yesterday, I found a little roll of bills — just over $100 — tucked behind the socks. I immediately knew just what to do with this little gift from beyond the rainbow bridge.
I hope a hundred voters somewhere are a little less hungry this week.
Here are your options for early voting
The good people of Washington, D. C., are hard done by when it comes to representation in Congress. This week is your chance to raise your voice early! Other early voting options in the final week of October right up to November 2nd are listed here:
| Oct. 26 | Maryland |
| Oct. 27 | District of Columbia |
| Oct. 29 | Oklahoma |
The dates listed below are not deadlines for sending in absentee or other mail-in ballots: that date is usually Election Day itself. Rather, these are the dates physical polling places close. Check your state’s link if you have any doubts.
| Oct. 27 | Louisiana |
| Oct. 29 | Maine and Tennessee |
| Oct. 30 | Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, Nevada, Texas and Utah |
| Oct. 31 | Florida, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Virginia and West Virginia |
Anything else I should do?
In addition to voting yourself, see if you can help someone else vote — maybe by driving them to the polling station (wear your masks!). Offer to help register under-represented citizens. Volunteer to be a poll worker if you’re young and healthy enough to do so. Work with those working to eliminate gerrymandering. Join a campaign in your state for permanent mail-ballot voting, as we do here in Washington, or perhaps making Election Day a national holiday.
These links come from a calendar of early voting access, state by state, published by The New York Times. For which a huge thank you! There’s also information about mail-ballots in NPR’s article Mail-in Voting Rules by State.
This week’s Vote Now photographs…
Top: Lincoln Memorial, Washington, District of Columbia (photo by T. J. Sagosz)
Bottom: National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (photo by L. J. Cameron)