Now is the time to get involved. Here’s how.
The issues so many of us care deeply about including racial justice, immigration, climate change, and LGBTQ rights, will be on the ballot in 2020 either directly or indirectly.
First Steps:
- Register to vote https://www.sos.state.mn.us
- Vote by mail- request a ballot https://www.sos.state.mn.us
- Mail in your ballot very soon after receiving it or personally drop it off at your county or city clerk’s office because difficulties with the Post Office may cause delays.
- Recruit election judges (from low risk groups), or volunteer yourself because many people who normally do this job are in high-risk categories for COVID-19.
- Commit to 10 hours of voter outreach before the election.
MUUSJA’s UU the Vote:
The MN UU Social Justice Alliance (MUUSJA) is a statewide UU justice organization that promotes and coordinates the justice activities of UU congregations across the state. Currently it is focusing on three areas related to voting:
- Creating a network of trainers to work with congregational volunteers to engage voters
- Partnering with local organizations to reach underrepresented voters
- Providing consultation, resources and training for longer-term organizing.
MUUSJA’s local partners include
- Minnesota Voice, which is led by and focuses on young BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People of Color) voters
- Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light, focused on climate change.
To connect with MUUSJA about voting: https://www.muusja.org and click on “updates.”
UU the Vote: This campaign, sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association, is supporting UU congregations, and partnering with other organizations in a major effort for democracy and support of electoral justice in the 2020 elections. To reach the national UU the Vote webpage, go to https://www.uuthevote.org.
For more information about WBUUC’s work with MUUSJA and UU the Vote click here
Voter Suppression/Underrepresented voters:
The following organizations combat voter suppression and encourage infrequent voters to vote:
Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival builds on work begun by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others. Today’s campaign is bringing people together “to confront the interlocking evils of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, militarism and the war economy, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism.” https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org
Reclaim Our Vote is a nonpartisan campaign of the nonprofit Center for Common Ground. Volunteers inform and mobilize voters, especially voters of color, to make sure they are registered and know how to get a ballot and vote. (Phone banks, letter writing & texting) https://actionnetwork.org/forms/reclaim-our-vote-signup
Moms Rising recruits volunteers to send postcards to infrequent voters. (They provide postcards & postage so there is no cost for volunteering.) https://www.momsrising.org
Vote Forward recruits volunteers to send letters to traditionally under-represented voters. In multiple randomized trials, voters who received a letter were significantly more likely to vote. https://votefwd.org
Climate Change:
Sierra Club: Phone banks, letter writing or texting infrequent voters in key states.
https://www.sierraclubindependentaction.org
Support Candidates:
State legislators, governors and other statewide and local officials, as well as members of Congress in Washington D.C. have the power to greatly affect our lives. Find out which candidates share your values on racial justice, education, climate change, gun safety, immigration or other key issues. Contact the candidate’s campaign to donate funds or volunteer.
WBUUC Contacts:
Contact WBUUC members Jane Bacon or Susan Miles if you have questions and/or want to get more involved in voter outreach.