Don’t just vote, get in the action

Celebrating NAHREP familia, cultura, politics, and grassroots action

October 22, 2020

Qué onda mi gente?!

There are exactly 12 days left until Election Day. The future pretty much rests in your hands. No pressure though. Just like all of you start your day with intention, you set goals for your sales, you envision an outcome and strive for it, let’s do the same thing for this election. Let’s be intentional about our power as citizens. The worst thing that can happen on election night when the results do not go the way you wanted is to feel that you did not do your part to contribute to the democracy of this country.

So let’s do a quick check list:

Did you register to vote? If not, go to www.vote.org to register online. The following states still have upcoming voter registration deadlines:

• Utah: Oct 23
• Massachusetts: Oct 24
• Colorado and Washington: Oct 26
• Connecticut: Oct 27
• Nevada: Oct 29

If your voter registration deadline has passed, the following states have same day voter registration:

• California, Nevada, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Maryland, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, DC
• North Carolina: You can do same day voter registration during early voting.

If you are registered to vote, have you triple checked your voter registration status? Go to www.vote.org to check your status.

Has early voting started in your state? If so, think about voting early. Check out this resource for information on early voting.

Do you have a plan for voting?

• Will you be voting by mail? If so, fill out and mail your ballot as soon as possible.
• If you’re voting in person, do you know where your polling location is? You can find your polling place here.
• When are you planning to vote? Make an appointment and put it on your calendar. Allow extra time in case there are long lines.

Don’t just vote, take part in the Action!

As a citizen of this country, voting is only the first step. Multiply your vote by ensuring that you become the reason that people who wouldn’t otherwise vote, VOTE! Sometimes it takes un “Jalón de oreja” and extra nudging to get some people to actually make it to the polls. This is where you come in.

Here are all of the ways that you can be a part of the action so that when Election Day comes, you know that you gave it your all:

1. Volunteer as a poll worker: With so much uncertainty about voting, it is more important than ever that there are enough poll workers (especially bilingual) to ensure that there are safe and secure elections. You can just donate a few hours, but you will need to be trained. Click here for more information on how to volunteer.
2. Volunteer for a campaign: It is so much fun and so rewarding to be a part of a campaign. It’s also a great way to meet new people. Below are a few of the different ways you can volunteer:
   • Knock on doors: Campaigns now have apps where you can take a precinct (neighborhood), knock on doors and ask voters who they are voting for. This is an extremely important tool for Get Out The Vote Efforts, otherwise known in campaign talk as GOTV. This is the MOST important part of the final stretch of a campaign and they need all the help they can get. And let’s be real, if you’re a real estate agent, you’re no stranger to door knocking. Just make sure to wear a mask.
   • Send text messages: If you want to volunteer from the comfort of your home, you can volunteer to send text messages to voters in swing states. This has been an effective way of reaching out to young people. And, Latinos are the youngest voting block! Go to the your candidate’s campaign website to find out how.
   • Make calls: Just like knocking on doors, calling voters is another critical volunteer activity. Most of the efforts made during the last two weeks of the campaign are NOT to convince people to vote one way or another but to identify who is actually voting for your candidate and ensure that they actually vote. This is called a field strategy.
3. Donate money: Put your money where your mouth is. Donating money to a campaign is your free speech right. It is a critical part of the process and great way to ensure that your vote is multiplied.
4. Voting Zoom Party: Host a ballot zoom party with your family and loved ones to discuss the ballot measures and local candidates together. Remember, most people have already decided on who they are voting for president, but elections are about SO much more. We’ve got ballot measures, amendments, city council, Congress, school board, local measures. Gather your family and discuss them!

I challenge you to pick one of these activities to ensure that you multiply your vote. Don’t just vote, become part of the action! Elections can be a blast. Share your pictures on Facebook and tag #NAHREPVOTES.