VOTE BY MAIL
 

Our Vote by Mail (VBM) enrollment margin continues to grow! As of last Friday, 2,545,584 Florida Democrats (46.5%) are enrolled in VBM compared to 1,763,007 Republicans, expanding our historic VBM enrollment lead to 782,577! And 707,505 Democrats have returned their ballots while only 396,495 Republicans have returned ballots! Of the FL Democrats who already voted, 60,470 of them did not vote in 2016 or 2018.
 
By comparison, 28 days out from the election in 2016, 113,811 voters had voted and Republican returns were ahead of Democrats by about 3,000.



   
It has become apparent that new visitors to the office are not aware that the Florida Democratic Party has been virtual since March because of COVID-19, including local DEC offices like ours.  However, our officers, staff and volunteers continue to work long hours virtually from our homes. 
 
Because of these policies to keep our Democrats safe from the coronavirus, our office remains closed for inside visits and meetings. Operations Coordinator, Stacey Klim, has agreed to physically be in the office on Wednesdays and Fridays 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. for visitors to pick up Democratic gear (yard signs, bumper stickers, etc.) and to conduct other “essential services,” which the FDP will allow.  Like many of us, she is doing this at some risk to her family, two of who have sensitive, pre-existing conditions. 
 
If you come to the office, please knock on the door, social distance, and wear a facemask.   Please be respectful, kind and friendly as we continue to look after the safety of our fellow Democrats.
 
 
   
The Biden Campaign has also been a virtual operation until earlier this month. Some states, including Florida, are beginning to knock on doors and man literature/sign disbursement centers in 27 locations around the state.  If you are interested in canvassing, the most recent one to us is in Fr. Pierce.  Click here to find the canvass near you: http://joe.link/FLCShift
 
Because of the safety & health protocols the Biden campaign has put in place, everyone joining in the canvass events must go through an online training so that they can be sure to follow all of their protocols for a safe event. 
 
Trainings are here: http://joe.link/FLCT
 


   
Jim Kennedy's campaign is also looking for volunteers to place door hangers in Indian River County.  They are targeting NPAs and will work with volunteers to define and deliver turfs close to their home/precincts to work on their own time.  They are focusing on NPAs with VBM ballots now and will transition to other NPAs as early voting begins.  Please contact Joanne Terry at [email protected] or 321-684-3295 if you are interested.
 


   
The Biden campaign just gave us 400 yard signs!  Come to our HQ at 2345 14^th Avenue, Suite 7 in Vero Beach and pick one up!  While you are there, purchase a Biden bumper sticker or button for $2.  You can also grab a free Al Griffiths and Scot Fretwell bumper sticker.  And free yard signs for Griffiths and Fretwell!  We may not outnumber the other party in our county, but we can support our candidates and the Democratic Party!
   
 

   
As we get closer to November 3^rd, we get busier.  We have a great group of regular volunteers, but we need more help!  Here are some ways you can help.
   
Thank you to everyone who has shown up for our sign waving events.  It has been fun to see the excitement for our candidates!  We still have more scheduled and we need YOU to show up!  We will be wearing masks and social distancing.  Signs will be provided, but if you have your own, feel free to bring them.  Join us on:

 

Friday, October 18^th, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. a group will be sign waving on Hwy 510 in front of the old Oasis Lounge, 6285 85th St., Wabasso.

 

Saturday, October 24^th, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the corner of 58^th Ave. and Hwy 60 (aka 20^th Street), parking in the Target shopping mall.
 
 
Here are some more opportunities:
 
NOTE LOCATION CHANGE:  Every Friday, through October 30^th there will be sign waving and a car caravan in Sebastian.  That means this week’s sign waving is on Friday the 18^th.  Meet at 3:45 p.m. in the parking lot of Bealls Outlet and Checkers Fast Food (across from Walgreens) on US Hwy 1 and Roseland.  The sign waving event will last for one hour and the car caravan for about an hour and a half.  Decorate your car to drive in the caravan, or bring signs to wave (homemade signs are always welcomed). 
 
Also, we have a group that is busy in Fellsmere and Wabasso contacting Hot Democrats and putting signs in their yards, reaching out to businesses to help get residents registered to vote and vote by mail, and holding Socially Distance Rallies.  Anyone who would like to help in Fellsmere or Wabasso, please contact Kelly at [email protected].
 
   
Early voting begins starting Monday, October 19^th through Saturday, October 31^st from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day.  Early voting is at 3 different locations – The Main Library in Vero Beach, the Supervisor of Elections office in Vero Beach and Sebastian City Hall.  We will need help with sign waving at these locations each day.  If you are interested in waving signs, please send an email to Stacey at [email protected] with the days and times you are available to sign wave.  We will provide the signs to wave! 
Also, we need a point person to deliver yard signs to each location every morning and pick them up every afternoon.  This is a big responsibility and we would appreciate any help you can provide.  Let Stacey know if you are willing to be the point person for a location and we will make sure you get yard signs.
 
   
The Biden campaign has fully moved into the Get Out the Vote phase of the campaign, and calls are to help Biden supporters vote, whether it is through vote by mail or in-person. The calls are being made to counties in Southern Florida and volunteers can work with an open virtual phone bank or with our dialer system. 
 

The campaign is offering dialer training on Thursdays over Zoom at 3 pm.  Email [email protected] to sign up.

 
Calls are being made every day starting at 12 pm, 3 pm, and 6 pm, with a 9 am shift on Saturdays.  To sign up to make calls the link is https://www.mobilize.us/fl2020victory/event/324413/ 
 
   
Want to write postcards to voters in swing states, including Florida?  Here are a couple of programs that do just that.
 
https://postcardstovoters.org/
 
https://lincolnproject.us/action/florida/?fbclid=IwAR2LgcQfynHJF1qpjet0AkXuaLAQ-OCeXBevc1dyrNi3WJGflvEMK14A-iI
 
 
   
Resist Bot is an amazing and super easy texting tool to use with numerous advocacy options.  With Resist Bot you can write your own letters to Congress, State officials and even the President; access phone numbers of officials anytime; create your own petition for others to sign and see trending petitions; even get 3 newspaper front pages every morning.  It took me about 1 minute to sign 2 petitions and send letters to Scott and Rubio asking them to hold off voting a new Supreme Court Justice and to stop forced hysterectomies on ICE detainees.  To start using Resist Bot, use your mobile phone and go to https://resist.bot/
 
 
   
This November not only will you be voting for a new President, but also local Congressional and State seats. 
 
Jim Kennedy is running to unseat Bill Posey.  Posey has been in his position for 12 years and it is time for a new member of Congress to represent us.  You can learn more about Jim at https://www.kennedyforflorida.com/
 
 
Al Griffiths is a candidate for Florida House Seat 54, running against Erin Grall.  Learn more about Al at:
 
https://www.algriffiths4statehouse.com
https://www.facebook.com/YouCanVoteforAl
https://twitter.com/AlGriffiths9
https://www.instagram.com/voteforal/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/3142490962487245/
[email protected]
https://algriffiths4statehouse.wordpress.com
 
 
Scott Fretwell, is running against Debbie Mayfield for Florida Senate Seat 17.  Learn more about Scot at:  
 
https://www.fretwellforfl.com/contact-us
https://www.facebook.com/fretwellforfl
https://twitter.com/fretwellforfl
https://www.instagram.com/fretwellforfl/
[email protected]
 
Both Al Griffiths and Scot Fretwell are looking for volunteers for their campaign.  If you have time to help these candidates, please reach out to them ASAP. 
 
Please come by our office to pick up FREE yard signs for these candidates!
 
 

   
There will be a peaceful march in solidarity for breast cancer, women’s rights and to honor Ruth Bader Ginsburg for her role in women’s rights.  We will be socially distancing, wearing our masks and wearing pink.  For more details, see the flyer below.
   
    
The DWC Book Group will meet on Friday, October 23rd at 2 p.m. on Zoom to discuss Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine Albright.  If you are not a book group member and want to join the discussion contact Pat O'Hara at [email protected].
 


   
Dave Bazinet, who is running Al Griffith’s campaign, is looking to borrow two vans for the next three weeks. He will have them wrapped with Democratic and of course Al campaign signs and then drive them throughout Indian River County every day.  You can call Dave at 772-584-2643.
 
 

 

• October 24, 5 p.m. – deadline to request ballot be mailed to voter
• November 3, 7 p.m. – SOE must receive completed ballots from in-state and absent stateside voters
• November 5, 5 p.m – deadline to cure ballots with signature mismatches
• November 13 – SOE must receive completed ballots from overseas voters

 

   

• Tonight, Vice President Biden will participate in an ABC News town hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. You can watch live starting at 8PM ET.
   
• Kamala Harris will travel to Asheville and Charlotte, North Carolina. In the morning, Senator Harris will deliver remarks at an early vote launch mobilization event in Asheville, North Carolina. In the afternoon, Senator Harris will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina to participate in a campaign hub grand opening. After, Senator Harris will participate in virtual Biden for President finance events. In the evening, Senator Harris will participate in a voter mobilization event to encourage North Carolinians to make their plan to vote early. 
   

• On Wednesday, Biden for President released a new national ad, “Change,” featuring Bridgett Floyd, the sister of George Floyd, sharing her personal message about the power of standing up for change and voting this election in the wake of the tragic killing of her brother by law enforcement in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 
   

• On Tuesday, Vice President Biden traveled to Florida where he delivered remarks on his vision for older Americans and encouraged Floridians to make a plan to vote. Biden’s visit to Broward County stood in stark contrast to Trump’s mostly unmasked and irresponsible rally in Sanford, Florida earlier this week. You can watch full remarks of Pembroke Pines and Miramar. 

 

• Also on Tuesday, the first day of early voting in Texas, Jill Biden traveled to El Paso, Dallas, and Houston to encourage voters to cast their ballots for the Biden-Harris ticket by voting early in their communities.
   

• Also on Tuesday, Biden for President hosted a Military Service Celebration with Veterans and Military Families for Biden. Featuring Ray Mabus and Norman Lear, the celebration recognized all military services on the 245th birthday of the U.S. Navy on October 13th, honoring our traditions and our commitment to service.
   

• On Monday, Joe Biden traveled to Ohio to talk about the economic pain working families across the state have felt as a result of President Trump’s broken promises to workers— from the closure of GM’s Lordstown plant to Trump’s threats to thousands of Ohio jobs by calling for a Goodyear boycott — and discussed his “Build Back Better” plan that will create millions of good-paying manufacturing jobs and revitalize the American auto industry. You can watch his full remarks in Toledo HERE and in Cincinnati HERE. .

 

• Biden for President held a virtual event celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day. The event featured remarks from Congresswoman Sharice Davids, and Congresswoman Deb Haaland, tribal leaders including President Fawn Sharp of the Quinault Indian Nation, President Bryan Newland of Bay Mills and Chairman Cedric Cromwell from Mashpee Wampanoag, and messages from Senator Elizabeth Warren and Mayor Pete Buttigeg.
   
• On Thursday,, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris traveled to Arizona where they greeted American Indian tribal leaders in Phoenix. Following that, they delivered remarks before embarking on a “Soul of the Nation” bus tour to meet with small business owners in Phoenix and Tempe, as well as voters on the second day of early voting. You can watch their full remarks HERE. 
   
• This past week, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris earned endorsements from 19 newspapers across 14 states. The endorsements highlight Joe Biden’s leadership, experience, and empathy as the qualities America needs in a president. Citing the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic crisis, and racial inequality in this country, the editorial boards also wrote that only Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are equipped to handle this triple threat of crises and build our country back better.

 

• Nature, one of the world’s leading scientific journals, announced its endorsement of Joe Biden for President of the United States, emphasizing their unequivocal confidence that Biden will follow science, evidence, and truth as the country and world grapples with both a global health and climate crisis.

 

• HBCU Times published Kamala Harris’s op-ed on the Biden-Harris pledge to HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and MSIs (Minority-Serving Institutions) in its fall issue. As a graduate of Howard University, Senator Harris writes that “every signal that we students received at Howard told us that we could be anything. We could come as we were and leave as the people we aspired to be."
   

• Biden for President launched “Looks Out,” a seniors-targeted ad featuring a testimonial from Mike Miller, a Michigan steelworker, about the importance of protecting Social Security. 
   

 
    
Cecile Richards, Stephanie Schriock, Ilyse Hogue, & Alexis McGill Johnson on the Fight for Reproductive Rights on Thursday, October 15th at 6:30pm ET. $250.  Click here to RSVP!
 
Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Monday, October 19th at 5:45pm ET. $100.  Click here to RSVP!
 
Please join our next Vice President Kamala Harris and Stephen Colbert this coming Monday, October 19th!  This will be a fun and exclusive reception that you will not want to miss! $250, which will elect Democrats up and down the ticket.  Click here to contribute and join Stephen and Kamala Harris this Monday.