No matter where you live, participating in and securing a fair democratic outcome is every citizen’s right, and duty. In usual times, this just means educating yourself on the issues, voting, and paying attention to the results. These are not ordinary times. So what to watch out for may be more complicated, and suggests that a little extra reading and research may be helpful.

In a contested election or attempted coup, things will happen fast and information may be unclear. We offer these key dates and actions as a starting place to build your confidence and connect you to networks of fellow citizens fighting for democracy.

Check the footnotes below or our long-form blog post for a more fulsome explanation of all this info. But the key concepts are:

• Be ready - don't expect election winners on Nov 3, but instead prepare to take to the streets and demand that all the votes are counted, and the winner of the election takes office. We have every reason to believe that the only way Trump can win is if he cheats or steals the election.
• States have from Nov 4-Dec 8 to count all the votes. Lots of states won't need all that time. Some might. Lots of legal battles, voter suppression, and more may happen during this window. Stay strong, stay in the streets and stay committed to Democracy.
• Congress ultimately decides "who wins." Don't lose sight of the (complicated) process, which lays out how elections are decided:
  • Voters vote; votes are counted; Each locality and state certifies its own election results; Electoral college delegations are certified based on those local results; Electoral college electors are sent to DC to present those 'certified' results; and then Congress 'recognizes' and ratifies those results.
• Each step requires participation, and oversight, by citizens like you and me.

I hope you are staying safe, and busy, this last weekend before the election

Thanks,

Drew and 198 methods to stop the coup crew