Ricki Yasha TarrAug 3, 2024

"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

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 Schoch

@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!)

Aug 3, 2024 at 3:02pmWeb
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)