Citizen! What does that word conjure up in you? For many it is worn and tired carrying baggage better left behind. But is that it? Citizenship is more than a birth certificate and a passport. To be a citizen is a gift and a duty, it comes with rights and responsibilities, but most of all, it is who you can be in building a world that we all want to be part of. This November you have a chance to show the kind of citizen you are - and voting is only the beginning. But it IS a beginning! 

Vote. And help get out the vote.

What Get Out the Vote efforts are you part of?

Basic Voting Information

Get Out The Vote Efforts

Join Me! Specific Fabric Invitations

Melissa Lock. I have appreciated these two resources for settling, listening, connecting, learning and acting for the long haul (before, through and after this election.)

  • DreamCorps Election Toolkit - imagining and building a future for all of us. One that doesn’t ignore daily injustices of being black, brown or low income in America. (Scroll down too. Dream Circles offer spaces and resources for settling and connecting. Great resource for your Fabric group too.)

  • Braver Angels Hold America Together Initiative - the only place I have seen self-identified Trump voters and Biden voters actually connecting and working together. Moments of Peace - variety of 15 minutes connections offered throughout election night.

Cynthia Sarver (email), Strategic | Ideation | Activator | Learner | Connectedness

  • I’m involved with GOTV through FIMN which is doing phone banks in MN for statewide campaigns.  They’re focused on key races in Rochester, St Cloud, and the TC a to #FlipTheSenate in MN so it’s definitely partisan. But I’m a big believer that local gotv efforts are the best place to spend our energy (and get folks involved in taking back our democracy). FIMN has an excellent strategy and are regularly checking and revising strategy with polling. Phone banks are nearly every day, involve a little on the spot training for any newbies, and can be joined any time by anyone. AND they are fun!  Let me know if that sounds like something you’re interested in and I’ll send a link for phone bank signups.

  • Am also working with Election Defenders that is a nationwide group that is working to help ensure that everyone can vote by assigning groups to key polling places organized by state to help stave off harassment and ensure that BIPOC folks feel safe voting. The trainings have started but they’re recorded so if you’re joining now or can’t make Tu nights you can still participate (a 4-hr training commitment)

  • Choose Democracy. I am ALSO newly involved with this group that hasn’t really established a TC presence yet. The training and resources are excellent though. More trainings coming (on 10/21 and 10/27 for sure).  I have heard that Take Action might be organizing something similar locally. Maybe others on the list know?  

Laureen Harbert (email)

I want to make sure you have a healthy, safe voting experience. Click here to register to vote and request a mail-in ballot to vote from home.

So glad Fabric is doing this!!!!

  • One thing that surprised me in a recent mailing from Secretary of State is that you cannot bring your mail in ballot to the polls on election day.  I thought you could, but you cannot, I think we should specify that. 

  • You can bring your filled out absentee ballot to an early vote in-person location in MN unsealed and election officials will seal and have it sent that way if you have any worries about sending it from your own mail, and the ballot you were sent will not be spoiled this way (I wish I would have known, I hadn’t yet received mine when we decided to go vote early in person….But now I know and can share!  

  • Finally, I emailed the Mpls School Board at large candidate Michael Duenes about his position on CDD since he has strongly opposed it.  He said if elected he'd push to delay implementation.  So, I've got that information to share if others are wondering. 

Adam Johnson (email)

Capturing and encouraging energy and momentum has been my goal these past few months. I painted portraits of Kamala and Joe together, RBG (I completed the portrait the morning she passed away) and Kamala by herself. I turned each painting into a yard sign to keep the energy going as we approach November 3. I have yard signs remaining if anyone in the Fabric community (and beyond) is interested. 

  • The Kamala/Joe and Kamala by herself are $10 each (below what I paid to have them printed). 

  • The RBG is $20 and $5 from each sign is donated to the ACLU.Each sign is 18" by 24", double sided and includes the metal stakes. They are excellent quality. The RBG sign was printed at Minuteman Uptown (a black owned local printing company).

Rachel Ulfers

Hi all, thanks for all the work everyone has been doing to create visibility, momentum, amplify less often heard voices, etc.  I will include that writing letters (including a personal message as to why I vote and why it matters) to mail through Vote Forward and sending postcards with a preselected message at Postcards to Swing States have both been meaningful to me.  They are easy and don't take tons of time, no one can try to pick fights with you and maybe best for me, I don't need to get angry back at people trying to pick fights for no good reason! They do require some cash though to purchase stamps which could be a barrier to some. Also you must print and provide your own envelopes for VoteForward. I would say that though my platform has been more of a national election level and is rather inclusive of trying to get folks to exercise their right to vote without suggesting who to cast the vote for (though I very much have opinions about that...) I so appreciate the local level action and will potentially find a way to plug in even very minimally in the fight to keep the people I support in office.