Good morning, Activists!
7 DAYS UNTIL THE ELECTION
We’re getting down to the last few days. You can still make a big difference in the outcome of this election, so we hope you'll sign up for even an hour of your time to contact voters, and remind everyone you know to make a plan to vote. We're in the critical period, and if you have any time at all, please sign up to lit drop / canvass, or make some calls. Every bit helps!
At this point we can't leave anything on the field. We need step up to the plate and run through the tape. You know we're serious about it when we haul out the sports metaphors. So let's put on a full court press and bring this election home.
TODAY is the LAST DAY to submit an application for a mail-in ballot. If you or someone you know has not done it yet, DO IT TODAY. Here is what’s happening to help you do it, from Billy Penn:
"On the last day to apply for a Pennsylvania mail ballot, Philadelphia election officials are expanding hours for the city’s satellite election offices and guaranteeing any registered voter in line by 5 p.m. the right to apply for an early vote.
Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27 — two hours earlier than usual for a weekday. Election officials confirmed that the lines will be closed at 5 p.m. sharp, but anyone who is waiting by that time will be allowed to apply for a ballot, no matter how many people are waiting."
And if you already have your mail-in ballot, you have until Election Day, November 3, at 8:00 pm to drop it off at a satellite office or drop box. But do it right away!
Find more information in the city’s Election Guide at this link.
More drop boxes and election offices –
The Board of Elections has opened more drop boxes, for a total of 11, along with the 17 satellite election offices. You can see them all at this link with a handy dandy map, and share it with your friends.
Do you care about election safety and accessibility? Then join us TOMORROW!
Come hear our Members of Congress discuss these important topics. You can listen in on a virtual roundtable featuring panelists Senator Bob Casey, Representative Dwight Evans, a representative from the PA Department of State, plus our own Vicki Miller. The panelists will discuss the important issues of voter safety and accessibility and the proposals for legislation to remedy these concerns. It will be open to the press by invitation only.
When: Tomorrow at 2:00 pm
Where – Join the event at this link. Capacity is limited so this is on a first-come-first-served basis.
Before we go further, check out these wonderful postcard photos! Here are Rosalind's beautiful cards; and Lewis shows us how it's done!
More election resources and things you can do –
Be a Designated Agent with Fairmount Votes – Take a voter’s mail-in ballot and drop it off.
You can sign up to obtain and/or return ballots for voters with disabilities or who are at high risk for COVID. An individual voter will authorize you to take their ballot to be turned in. Use this sign-up form, and choose different options based on your comfort level.
Most tasks involve visiting an Early Voting Site, and for some you'll need to enter an apartment building or nursing home lobby, with social distancing and reduced contact when possible.
Discounted Rides to The Polls on Uber and Lyft
Lyft is offering 50% off one ride up to $10 to any polling location or drop box using the code 2020VOTE. The discount also includes Lyft’s network of bikes and scooters in select cities.
Uber has an in-app poll-finding feature and 50% off roundtrip rides to and from the polls (up to $7 each trip), or up to $14 for the two trips. It also applies on bikes and scooters.
Disability Rights – Questions answered about casting a ballot as a voter with disabilities
Disability Rights Pennsylvania will operate a hotline to provide voter assistance for any issues related to the vote for Pennsylvanians with disabilities. The hotline is operating now through Election Day. Call 800-692-7443 or email electionday@disabilityrightspa.org, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. On November 3, the hotline will be staffed from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Voter Protection
Election Protection on election day can be reached at 866-687-8683. This is staffed by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and will answer any technical election question.
VotesPa can be reached at 877-868-3722.
See more options in our previous newsletters at this link.
And in the good feelings about humanity department. . .
Have you seen this great service?!? It’s Pizza To The Polls! They’ve created a truck program in partnership with Uber Eats and restaurant partners like Milk Bar, Shake Shack, and more. They’re sending out food trucks in 25 cities, delivering treats to polling locations with long lines throughout early voting and Election Day. They’ll be here in Philadelphia Oct. 29-Nov. 3! Hope you see them and enjoy!
REACH OUT TO VOTERS NOW! Find all of our events at this link.
It’s down to the wire now. This last week is the most critical time to reach out to voters and make sure they know how to fill out their mail-in ballots, can find their polling locations, and can get their questions answered. Let’s bring this election home!
PHONE BANKING
Call a Philly voter we already wrote postcards to!
We have talked to some fantastic voters and helped many of them to understand how to correctly turn in their mail-in ballot. You too can help Philadelphia voters make sure their vote counts. What’s better than that?
TONIGHT! 6:00 pm
Phonebank for Joe Biden. Sign up here.
This Friday 10/30 – 4:00 pm
Phonebank for Joe Biden Sign up here.
Saturday Phonebanking – with Indivisible National Phonebanks calling voters in key states + special guests! We'll have a training first and live phonebank troubleshooting. This will be GOTV calls on the Hubdialer.
October 31: GOTV Call-A-Thon: Call-O-Ween
Before you begin your Halloween night activities, join us in the afternoon for our final call-a-thon before Election Day! Comedian Abbi Jacobson will join us to bring some fun to the event. There will be a costume contest so come decked out in your scariest, cutest or political caricature attire. We’ll have prizes!
When: Saturday, October 31, 3 pm - 6 pm ET/12 pm - 3 pm PT
Where: Register here to join the fun!
CANVASSING / LITERATURE DROPS FOR JOE BIDEN
We dropped Biden/Harris literature at Philadelphia doors again this past Saturday and had some great conversations. You can do it any day too! Get out and talk to voters or just leave literature on their doors. Sign up for this incredibly important work at the links below.
South Philly – 1927 South 7th Street – Sign up for a shift here.
Northwest Philly – 7254 Limekiln Pike – Sign up for a shift here.
Chinatown Area – 1100 Vine Street, Unit C5 – Sign up for a shift here.
Northern Liberties (Saturday only) – Transport Workers Union 500 N 2nd St Philadelphia, PA 19123. Sign up for a shift here.
ELECTION NIGHT WATCH PARTY
We know, it’s stressful to even think about it. You can decide if you want to spend some time with friends on the Zoom or not. Either way, we’re here for you! Join us to watch the results come in. When: November 3, 8:00 pm. Sign up here.
AFTER THE ELECTION PROTECT THE RESULTS
We need to be prepared for after the election, in the disturbing but likely case that Trump decides to declare victory and order the voting to stop while mail-in ballots are still being counted. Or if he refuses to leave office, or any number of other scenarios. We need to be prepared to act the moment he starts to interfere with the results of the election process. Sign up here.
The Protect the Results coalition includes over 100 grassroots organizations, progressive and conservative advocacy groups, government watchdogs, voting rights advocates, and labor unions. We are planning non-violent “Count Every Vote” peaceful protests to demand that every vote is counted and to help ensure the peaceful transition of power.
What can you do? You can sign up here to get all the notifications. We’ve had to change the time and location of our rally, so now it begins at Independence Mall at 1:00 or 2:00 as the need dictates. We’ll march to City Hall and finish the rally there at about 4:30. You can join for any part of that. We expect that these mobilizations will continue for at least a few days and so the events after this first one will feature different activities, such as car caravans, light brigades and other actions. There will be something for everyone. Stay tuned for more information.
And below are more inspiring photos! Felix shows us he's on the path to being a great voter and Gail shows off some gorgeous cards!
Have a great GOTV week everyone.
Stay safe. Wear a mask. Keep a distance. Be kind.