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Dear John,
This Tuesday was National Poll Worker Recruitment Day! Though it’s perhaps not as well-known as some coming holidays, our team here at Ms. believes that it’s important to celebrate any excuse to get involved in our democracy—especially as we are now less than two months away from the most important election of our lifetimes.
Wondering how you can get involved in the coming elections? If you are able, I strongly encourage you register to be a nonpartisan poll worker. As a poll worker, you’ll do the critical work of helping people navigate the voting process and cast their ballots. (An added bonus: almost all states pay their poll workers!)
In the past, the majority of poll workers in the U.S. have been 60 years of age or older—but this age group is at the greatest risk of contracting coronavirus, leading to a national shortage of election workers. Unless those of us who are able get involved ASAP, this shortage will lead to voting location closures, forcing voters to travel longer distances to get to their polling place. It will also lead to drastically longer wait times, which can become a barrier to voting for folks who cannot take time off from work to cast their ballots or may be juggling more than one job, all while managing children attending school from home.
To help you get started, the Ms. team has done our best to find specific information on how to begin the poll worker application process. We’ve organized this information state-by-state, but the process for becoming a poll worker is different for every county and voting territory. Find this information here.
I know that every single day it feels like we are facing worse news. I’ll admit that I have found myself wary to check Twitter or the news lately, afraid to see what new injustice or affront to our democratic system await. But no matter what, we simply cannot ignore or avoid this simple truth: our democracy is at stake. Our right to vote is under attack here in the United States. Those of us who are privileged enough to be able to do so must get involved. We must take action—and becoming a poll worker is one important way to do so. Fifty-eight days to go.
For equality,
Kathy Spillar
Executive Editor
P.S. Another important action step to take today: in our upcoming, expanded Fall issue, we examine how the ongoing battle over voting rights will have an impact on the country’s ability to hold fair elections during a pandemic, as well as on the difference women will make as voters and candidates, and we give a run-down on important state ballot measures. If you become a Ms. Member right now you’ll get our expand issue delivered straight to your mailbox in time for Election Day—and you’ll be informed and ready to fight back.
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