Friends,

The stakes of this election are too high for anyone to stay home. Everything is on the line—from health care to voting rights to global climate change.

But if Democrats are going to win big, we need to put in the work.

It can be both inspiring and dizzying: There are a lot of worthy organizations out there. Where should you direct your time, effort and resources? Where can you have the greatest impact in the next 47 days?

To make it easier for you, we’re doing things a bit differently in today’s Off the Sidelines Spotlight: Instead of diving deep on a single issue, we’re breaking down a few ways to get involved in the election based on the time and resources you have to spare. 

This is by no means an exhaustive list—we’re focusing on two main objectives: 1) voter turnout and protection efforts and 2) helping to elect Democrats up and down the ballot.

Let’s get to work!

-Stefanie

If you have one minute…

Make sure you’re registered to vote—and then ask your friends and family if they’re registered as well. You can check your voter registration status at IWillVote.com.

If you have five minutes (let’s be real, we all have five minutes)...

Make a PLAN to vote. Election Day will sneak up on you, so make sure you know how, when and where you’ll be voting. Pro-tip: Once you have a plan, set a calendar invite to hold yourself accountable.

Use your voice. Talk to your friends about the candidates you’re excited about—or share one of their posts on social media. And studies show folks are more likely to vote when someone they know asks them to do so. So—be the change! Text five friends and remind them to check their registration status. 

If you have ten minutes (or ten dollars)...

Don’t live in a swing state? Adopt one! Through Crooked Media’s Vote Save America, you can sign up to adopt a key battleground state and support organizers, volunteers and candidates on the ground.

Make a contribution to your candidate (or candidates!) of choice. Every dollar you give equips candidates with the resources they need to keep their ads up on the air, contact voters, and help ensure that every vote is counted. Need some inspiration? You can take a look at all of the candidates endorsed by Senator Gillibrand and Off the Sidelines here.

If you have a few free hours (or a few free days)...

Volunteer to protect the vote in key swing states. 

Protect Our Vote, a project of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, is recruiting individuals to staff voter protection hotlines, volunteer as poll observers, and sign up to be election workers during Early Vote and on Election Day. All training is provided, and no law degree or other experience is required. You can sign up here.

Stacey Abrams’ Fair Fight 2020 is building voter protection teams with Democratic state parties and local allies across the country to protect the right to vote. You can sign up to volunteer here.

You can also sign up to help the Biden campaign with voter protection efforts as a poll observer here.

Phone- or text-bank to mobilize voters in battleground states. Swing Left curates impactful ways you can help Democrats win in 12 “Super States” where Democrats can flip the White House, the Senate and state houses. You can pick a shift time and call voters in must-win states like Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. Check your calendar and block out a few hours one weekend to devote to voter outreach.

Sign up to become a poll worker. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, states are experiencing a critical shortage of poll workers. In New York, for example, 55 percent of the state’s poll workers have historically been over the age of 60, making them especially vulnerable to the pandemic. Poll workers are needed during early voting (where applicable) and on Election Day (November 3). Visit your state election website, or check out Power the Polls to volunteer.

And if you’re a New Yorker…
Here’s all the information you need to prepare to vote:

Register. The deadline to register to vote (online, in-person, or by mail) is Friday, October 9. You can check your registration status here and register to vote online here.

Make a plan. 

Voting by mail? Make sure to apply for an absentee ballot. This year, all New Yorkers can vote absentee (by mail) in the election. The deadline to apply online, by email or by mail for an absentee ballot is Tuesday, October 27. You can apply in-person up to November 2. Your ballot must be postmarked by November 3 or dropped off at a polling site in-person on or by November 3. 

Voting in-person? Consider voting early, when fewer people will be crowding polling places. Early voting in New York runs from Saturday, October 24 to Sunday, November 1—but dates and hours will vary based on where you live. Of course, you can always vote in-person on Election Day. 

Consider becoming a poll-worker. Poll workers are needed during early voting (October 24-November 1) and on Election Day (November 3). To become a poll worker in New York, click here.

And if you're focused on electing more women to Congress, please make a contribution to Off the Sidelines today.

When you make a donation to Off the Sidelines, that money goes directly toward providing Democratic women like Jeanne Shaheen and Tina Smith the resources they need to power their reelection campaigns and stay in the Senate. You're also funding first-time Senate candidates like Amy McGrath and Sara Gideon who are counting on our support to win their razor-thin races and take back Senate control from Mitch McConnell.

Paid for by Gillibrand for Senate


Contributions or gifts to Off the Sidelines PAC are not tax-deductible. Off the Sidelines PAC does not accept contributions from federal lobbyists, corporate and/or trade association PACs, or "for profit" business entities, including but not limited to sole proprietorships, partnerships, and LLCs.

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