Ricki Yasha Tarr

"I live in a red state my vote doesn't ma-"

If your vote didn't matter they wouldn't try so hard to make it harder to vote in red states. Voting in red states can turn them into swing states like Georgia, Ohio, and Arizona. And voting in blue states can keep them from becoming swing states.

California used to be Red. Texas was Blue long ago. Florida was once a swing state. Obama took Indiana but it's gone redder since. Ten years ago Arizona and Georgia going blue was unthinkable.

Things change and we can make them change.

And that's before getting into more local elections. Turning cities blue, the state legislature.

Red states have flipped blue in recent years at those levels too.

Because people vote, and if we vote in high enough numbers we can turn a tight election into a walk in the park. If we vote in high enough numbers, we can turn a loss into a win. So many good things have happened in states where someone won by like 100 votes. (arizona is one)

-sniperct

Aug 3, 2024 at 1:47amWeb
Show threadRicki Yasha TarrAug 3, 2024
Show threadGreen Roc ThoughtsAug 3, 2024

@RickiTarr I could die anyday now.
Live like it's my last day...

Imma go see Deadpool and Wolverine tonite!!!! Yayy!

Show threadAviva GaryAug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr lol 😆
Show threadPeteAug 4, 2024

@RickiTarr

Interesting religious connotation to those lines... I love them too, and they've been a personal mantra for a while.

Show threadExtra_Special_CarbonAug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr Absolutely. If nothing else, your vote is heard. It’s part of s number that could make courts think twice about rejecting evidence in favor of political convenience knowing there is a sea of people waiting to make you irrelevant.
Show threadHeidi Li FeldmanAug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr 💯
Show threadJohn TimaeusAug 3, 2024

@RickiTarr

And even if it's impossible to swing the top of the ticket, there's lots of local candidates that need a vote.

School board elections are often decided by tens of votes, not thousands.

Show threadAlex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UKAug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr we kicked out the conservatives here in Britain (even if the "Labour" party is still quite centrist, although the new Prime Minister has a similar background to Kamala Harris), and our neighbours in France had elections where it was feared fash would win but there was a pushback and they only ended up third in the end...
Show threadSherBearethAug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr And may I add, as a resident of the Blue Privilege of Vermont, that it’s not okay to think your liberal pals are fired up and thus your vote is optional. Or worse. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a leftie say that and I speak up when I can. People of bright Blue states, don’t assume your community is going to vote for you so that the election is guaranteed a win.
Show threadsollatAug 3, 2024
@SherBeareth @RickiTarr
Plus: even if it’s very likely, know that skullduggery and legal challenge are also very likely. It’s your vote. Use it.
Show threadSherBearethAug 3, 2024

@sollat @RickiTarr

Pre-cisely. And I think women need to recall how damned difficult and dangerous it was for suffragettes to get the vote. There were pamphlets being secretly passed in Victorian drawing rooms, leading to wives finding excuses to socialize apart some evenings. But don’t get me started, the Black community was also denied the vote for decade after decade of having no voice and no choice.

Use your vote is good advice because we don’t want the #weirdness.

Show threadShannon ClarkAug 3, 2024

@RickiTarr and in “blue” states votes still can really matter.

Evan Low who is running for House of Rep in my district came in second in the primary which in CA’s open primaries means he is on the Nov ballot - by FIVE votes and only after a recount broke what had been a tie (he’s a long shot to win against Sam Liccardo who is the former mayor of San Jose - and both are Democrats - two of those votes were my household)

But Adam Schiff faces a GOP opponent for Senate as Dem votes were split

Show threadJames M.Aug 3, 2024

@Rycaut ... and also because Schiff gave money to his Republican opponent because he thinks that that Republican opponent will be easier to beat than Katie Porter would have been. Dirty politics against progressives, yet again. :(

@RickiTarr

Show threadShannon ClarkAug 3, 2024
@jamesmarshall @RickiTarr he didn’t literally give money to his opponent. He ran ads (including on Fox) portraying the race as being between him and Garvey and trying to tie Garvey to Trump. Which yes was reported by papers like the Washington Post as “giving money” to Garvey but it’s also true that there were a lot of Democrats running splitting the Democratic Party vote into many candidates while there were fewer GOP candidates and while CA overall is Blue there are many GOP voters here still
Show threadmickymorseAug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr Texas is a fascist shithole because the GOP has subverted voters rights. Their AG Ken Paxton is a criminal.
Show threadNicole ParsonsAug 3, 2024

@RickiTarr

The list of GOP voter suppression tactics is infuriating
https://nyupress.org/9781479862351/uncounted/
https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2021/05/politics/black-voting-rights-suppression-timeline/

https://tjcoalition.org/1341-2/

https://www.aclu.org/news/civil-liberties/block-the-vote-voter-suppression-in-2020

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_suppression_in_the_United_States

Attacks on reproductive rights is a felony disenfranchisement scheme in the making

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-laws-roundup-june-2023

https://publicintegrity.org/politics/elections/who-counts/see-which-states-are-expanding-or-restricting-voting-rights/

https://naacp.org/resources/voter-suppression-and-voter-nullification-laws

Bought by billionaires
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/voter-suppression-alec-billionaires/

https://readsludge.com/2020/07/31/here-are-the-billionaires-funding-trumps-voter-suppression-lawsuits/

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/19/business/voting-rights-reid-hoffman-linkedin/index.html

https://ugapress.org/book/9780820357744/voter-suppression-in-u-s-elections/

https://www.popsci.com/technology/elon-musk-voter-registration/

Uncounted

An answer to the assault on voting rights—crucial reading in light of the 2024 presidential electionThe Voting Rights Act of 1965 is considered one of the ...

NYU Press
Show threadChris DudleyAug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr You've got your eye on Texas, but I want Wyoming.
Show threadRicardo HarvinAug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr I grew up in a very blue Florida.
Show threadVolineAug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr
If you want there to be a wave, you gotta be willing to be a drop of water.
Show threadBilly_JonesAug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr That's what they want you to believe.
Show threadPaul KoenigAug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr My favorite voting memory: Special election for a minor local seat is only thing on ballot. I’m 19, living at home, and stroll into polling place midafternoon. Poll worker mentions I was second person they had that day. Give my name and address and the people at the books freeze after a moment Leaning over to look, “Yeah, my dad always likes to vote first thing in the morning.” Power goes to those who assert it.
Show threadJoe ❌👑Aug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr Even in the reddest states aware voters can keep maniacs off school boards if they organize.
Show threadBig Dad The ChairmanAug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr @BigDadTheChairman #newmusic #newmusicfriday #hiphop #vote #voteblue #freegaza
Show threadCurtiss Grymala (he/him/his)Aug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr I still vote, and encourage everyone I know to vote, but, in West Virginia, where it's 99.9% red, it does feel like a waste. I still do it, though.
Show threadUltra Verified 🇺🇦 🇬🇱Aug 3, 2024

@RickiTarr

Bookmarked.

Will boost again, when I think appropriate.

And again.

And again.

Show threadUltra Verified 🇺🇦 🇬🇱Aug 3, 2024

@RickiTarr

Bernie Sanders was elected mayor of Burlington VT in 1981.

He won by 12 votes.

Show threadNessAug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr
Your vote makes a difference. Go vote.
...
Does anyone here need result maps for Florida as encouragement? Here you go:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpiSZhJe5M0
Florida does the cha cha slide

YouTube
Show threadRicki Yasha TarrAug 3, 2024
@EscGoat I noticed that a very large proportion of Kamala donations were from Florida.
Show threadNessAug 4, 2024
@RickiTarr That's fantastic news, voting with wallet and hopefully with ballot. 
Show threadBrad RosenheimAug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr The other thing is that the popular vote gives politicians a stronger mandate. I want to see a landslide in the popular vote this year to defeat Trump, even if only 7 swings states are in play for the asinine electoral college.
Show threadRicki Yasha TarrAug 3, 2024
@Brad_Rosenheim Yes, this also lessens the fear of the Supreme Court getting involved in the election process, which we certainly don't want.
Show thread🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 🐧 🥦Aug 3, 2024

@RickiTarr

"If your vote didn't matter they wouldn't try so hard to make it harder to vote in red states"

The bottom line.

If it is too verbose for them, just reply :

*cough* Supreme Court *cough*

Show threadRobert Dale ParkerAug 3, 2024

@RickiTarr

Also, it's important to vote regardless. The popular vote matters too.

Show threadHeatherTXAug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr
Not enough people vote. Not enough people regard it as their civic duty, like jury duty. I see local races / ballot measures sometimes decided by fewer than 10 votes (and a voter turnout of <25%). We need to take local matters & local government as seriously as the MAGAts do. 🫤
Show threadLydia SchochAug 3, 2024

@HeatherTX @RickiTarr @cobalt What do you all think can or should be done to encourage more people to vote in local races and ballot measures?

(Edited to add: I am asking in an inquisitive tone. I genuinely would love to hear what has worked or what might work!)

Show threadmizblueprintAug 3, 2024

@lydiaschoch @HeatherTX @RickiTarr @cobalt
Until people believe they have a stake in any election, they tend to tune out. I've "walked" many precincts for other candidates and causes, and for myself. Local elections tend to revolve around taxation, and land use/property rights.

Long term, perpetual election messages are tuned out. Coordinating local elections with state and national elections helps improve local voter engagement.

Show threadcobalt going beige todayAug 3, 2024
@lydiaschoch @HeatherTX @RickiTarr Going door-to-door means a lot in our neighborhood.
Show threadrun_atalanta -> beige.partyAug 3, 2024

@lydiaschoch @HeatherTX @RickiTarr @cobalt I'm eagerly listening to the replies, because what I see is a tremendous amount of response to big deals like turn out for Obama, and now this wave of turn out for Harris, yet when I talk to "yeah, I don't vote" people for primary races and other years, they shrug, because they'd have to put effort into voting.

Last year we tried to slogan "Be Vocal, Vote Local" and it was well received by those....who already committed to vote. (Sigh)

Show threadrun_atalanta -> beige.partyAug 3, 2024

@HeatherTX @RickiTarr in my area, the same people who feel their vote wouldn't matter also want to avoid jury duty too, for reasons.

The desire to participate in civic duty is discouraged or engaged by how much the local leaders include parts of the population in decisions and projects.

City of Pittsburgh was able to ballot-approve two new city taxes. One to fund Libraries, and the other improve/rehab playgrounds and parks that had not seen maintenance under previous administrations.

Show threadrun_atalanta -> beige.partyAug 3, 2024

@HeatherTX @RickiTarr Why did those taxes get approved? The benefits were going to city residents and not some "attract corporate headquarters" tax write-off for out-of-towners. A non-partisan effort to help the city residents worked. It was more than checking a slate card, but the benefit was clear.

There was, of course a big "disinformation" effort by those who wanted it voted down. So yay, voter education was key.

Show threadThadAug 3, 2024

@RickiTarr And that's not to mention down-ballot races. Anybody who thinks school board elections aren't important hasn't been paying attention.

Evangelicals seized our institutions by playing the long game — 40, 50 years long. They did it by voting in every election, for every office.

If they can do it, we can do it. There are a lot more of us.

Show threadMilcom MiasmaAug 3, 2024

@Thad @RickiTarr

100% this.

Proof that you're right (there are more of us than there are of them) is in the gerrymandering and voter disenfranchisement efforts they're working hard at now.

They know they can't win if we're united and engaged in the process.

Show threadThadAug 3, 2024
@mmiasma That and the Republican candidate has only won the popular vote in 1 of the past 8 presidential elections. And that was as an incumbent, after winning his first term while losing the popular vote. @RickiTarr
Show threadPaul KiddAug 3, 2024
@mmiasma @RickiTarr @Thad and that was the fairly extraordinary situation of the first election after 9/11. Essentially you have to go back to the 80s to have Republicans win the popular presidential vote in non-wartime circumstances.
Show threadDave VolekAug 3, 2024

@RickiTarr
Another aspect for voting blue in a red state as that it forces the Republicans to defend their turf rather than go on the offence in blue turf.

The two parties do shift resources from state-to-state, with emphasis on the swing states.

Forcing the R's to spend more money on Oklahoma is a battle worth fighting.

But we really need a better democracy.

Show threadKim Possible Aug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr can confirm.
Show threadRalph (AF4EZ)Aug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr I can't remember the percentage, but it was rather small. There was a set of maps in 2016 that showed if women voters showed up (I think it was 10% more) over half the red states would have flipped. There was also a map if a small number more of young voters showed up, roughly the same thing happened.
IF minority voters show up as they did in 2008 and a few percent more women and young voters show up. There will be no 'red states'
Show threadFrances NationAug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr this is so true! As a blue dot in deep red north Georgia, I can't do much about local offices except make my presence known every election. But I voted for Biden, Ossoff and Warnock and those votes made a difference.
Show threadMcDyerAug 3, 2024
@fsnatio @RickiTarr
Thank you! I've been part of turning suburban Atlanta blue. It's work, but it pays off!
Show threadRichardAug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr Greg Abbott doesn't want me to vote, and that just makes me want to do it more.
Show threadGabriel PettierAug 3, 2024

@RickiTarr even if they end up winning the state, making it contested means they'll have to divert resources ($) to it to be able to do so, making other fights elsewhere easier.

Think global, act local, as they say.

Show threadBarbara MonacoAug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr Important reminder! Recently read "The Making of the President 1960", an in-depth look at Kennedy vs Nixon. It was remarkable how much the various states have changed since. California was a Republican stronghold, while Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and deep south states voted Kennedy. I understand that this preceded Nixon's Southern Strategy, but is interesting in light of how Kennedy campaign overcame rabid opposition to a Yankee Catholic. Their work on the ground was amazing!
Show threadJoe ❌👑Aug 3, 2024
@Barbramon1 @RickiTarr It is as much about how the parties have changed. In 1960, the Democrats were the party of segregation in the South, though things were changing.
Show threadBarbara MonacoAug 3, 2024
@not2b @RickiTarr As I said, I am aware of that. My point was that Kennedy, as a New Englander and a Catholic, had to fight hard against rabid bigotry in the Protestant Yankee hating south. It's a prejudice that was so powerful that we as modern citizens may have a hard time understanding. Kennedy campaign went fearlessly into states where Catholicism was considered next to Satanism. He fought hard against bigoted stereotypes and won.
Show threadBellison22Aug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr 👏👏👏👏👏
Show thread🚲Aug 3, 2024
@RickiTarr I vote in the bluest of blue states and used to think my vote was kind of pointless, but in the previous election we had a state government seat go to a Democrat by only 12 votes in our district. My vote will never affect the presidency, but it can sure as shoot affect County Dogcatcher, and local politics are what matters most.
Show threadAviva GaryAug 3, 2024

@RickiTarr So this theoretical person doesn't understand why they do voter suppression, ID laws and gerrymandering on industrial scale in the Red States TM?

Interesting...