Make your vote count!

Warning: I will say some unkind things next.

If you’re a US citizen, are you registered to vote? Will you vote tomorrow? Why haven’t you already voted? (It’s going to be a mess at the polls, and early voting by absentee ballot is so much easier, if your state allows it!)

Some quick notes:

If you are still ‘Undecided’ at this point of this election, there is no hope for you. You shouldn’t be voting, and you probably don’t deserve citizenship.

For anyone under the age of 30: No, you cannot vote by text. That is a scam created by the GOP to disenfranchise (cheat) younger, more liberal and phone-prone folks of the vote. Depending on your state, you must vote the way the rules are set up: at your designated precinct, usually. Seriously, look into absentee ballot by mail and early voting, for the next election. If we get one.

If you are a Democrat or Independent voter, especially a POC, and you feel intimidated at any way at the polls, the ACLU has some helpful guidelines here. The Washington Post has an article about voter intimidation here.

Don’t go alone to a polling place you think might be subject to GOP harassment. Take a friend or family member. They can’t vote with you, but they can watch your back before and after.

Depending on your state rules, you may not be able to take a cellphone picture near or inside the polling place. But have your phone charged up, and set up a method of instantly uploading photos. If someone (a GOP/Trumpster pollwatcher) intimidates or harasses you, bring it to the attention of the people in charge of the polls. If people accost you once you are away from the polling place (on the way to a car or bus) be ready to challenge THEM. Be ready to take pics!

If you feel in real danger, call 911 immediately and get to a safe place if you can.

Don’t believe poll numbers or gossip. In a close election, every vote counts, right up to the moment the polls close. Don’t get angry, don’t get discouraged: go vote!

Take time off work to vote: your employer has to give you that time, and most of them don’t want a major bad press/criminal case over it.

No matter what happens tomorrow, try to be kind. Be reasonable and vigilant. Be better informed in the future: get your news and information from sources that have actually been vetted for truth (hint: that wouldn’t be Breitbart, InfoWars, FoxNews, or any of their surrogates.)

The best that America can be…can still rise above this nonsense.