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Tag: voting

Pig Laws and Black Codes: Why Voting Matters

Posted in Food For Thought Podcast.

If you’ve ever doubted the power of voting, all you need to do is take a look at the history of and struggle for suffrage — the right to vote — in this country, because the power of voting can be measured by the efforts to suppress, limit, and restrict it.

Voting rights have been hard-won for most segments of the population, especially the millions of black men and women who endured the horrors of slavery, Pig Laws, Black Codes, Jim Crow laws, and 100 more years before securing their basic Constitutional rights. 

So, that’s what we’re going to talk about today — a little history, a few animalogies (animal-related words and expressions), and lots of resources if you want to get involved in exercising this most basic, most powerful right and making sure others can do the same.

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Elections Matter: How to Help Increase Voting

Posted in Blog.

The largest population of voters in America is people who are registered to vote, but don’t turnout at the polls. Why not? Challenges with transportation, childcare, work obligations, voter education, incentive/motivation, and more keep people from showing up on election day. Add to that disenfranchisement and cynicism, and we see people staying home when their voice is needed most. 

Elections have consequences — especially for civil rights, human rights, and animal protection. Check out these five organizations, and get involved to ensure the issues you care about are represented by elected officials.

Spread the Vote is an organization dedicated to helping people get IDs ahead of Election Day. IDs are necessary to participate in lots of areas of society, such as getting employment, opening a bank account, or finding housing. Additionally, voter ID laws in particular disproportionately affect communities of color, the elderly, and new voters. Spread the Vote helps people to navigate their state’s ID laws and assists with everything from application fees to driving you to the DMV to get your ID. You can join a local chapter (or start one!), and donate at their website.

VoteRiders.org — In addition to people who lack acceptable ID to vote, confusion and intimidation serve to prevent millions more eligible voters from voting, even if they have a valid ID in their state. Their Voter ID Helpline (844-33-VTRID) receives as many calls from people in non-voter ID states as from those in states that require or request ID at the polls! Even poll workers are confused and sometimes ask voters for ID when none is required. In addition to providing information about voter ID requirements for every voter in every state, they also partner with local organizations to find, inform and help voters with voter ID, especially those most at risk of losing their right to vote. Get involved today.

When We All Vote is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that is on a mission to increase participation in every election and close the race and age voting gap by changing the culture around voting, harnessing grassroots energy, and through strategic partnerships to reach every American. 

VoteForward.org, an organization I actively volunteer with, empowers grassroots volunteers to help register voters from under-represented demographics and encourage them to vote. It’s so simple and proven to be effective. With just a printer and some stamps, you send a letter to registered voters encouraging them to vote — it’s one of the easiest things you can do that meaningfully increases the odds that the recipient will vote. Obviously there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the election process during Covid-19, including how people will vote this year, but one thing is certain: it’s critical that they do so. Whatever method Americans use to safely vote this year, receiving a hand-written Vote Forward letter will make them more likely to cast a ballot. Adopt your registered voters today, and start preparing letters to send! 

MORE RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATIONS

Reclaim the American Dream is an informational gateway aimed at helping people who are upset about America today to get engaged in fixing our democracy and making our economy fairer at the local level, where people power still has clout. 

East Bay Animal PAC — If you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area, check out our work to elect animal-friendly candidates. You can contribute from wherever you are, and as a member, you are eligible to vote in our endorsement elections. And check out other animal-related organizations to help animals during elections in particular and the political arena in general:

Voters for Animal Rights (NY), Colorado Voters for Animals (CO), Maryland Votes for Animals, Connecticut Votes for Animals (CT), Animal Protection Voters, Animal Wellness Action. 

An interesting article for your day: Animals Vote, Too!