Halloween definitely feels different this year. It’s still my favorite holiday, but throw self-quarantining on top of a contentious election, and there isn’t much to do beyond binge watching horror movies. 

Don’t get me wrong; binge watching horror movies is great. But it’s harder to enjoy when the news cycle has been its own neverending horror movie. We now have a 6-3 conservative supermajority in the Supreme Court, affecting our lives for decades to come. We’re all haunted by the ghost of 2016, when the polls ended up underestimating Trump’s support in key battlegrounds. And we’re no closer to rolling out a nationwide COVID relief package than we were five months ago. 

But we have the power to flip the script (and the Senate). Let’s make this Halloween about taking back our democracy by voting in numbers too big to be ignored, ditching Mitch McConnell, and finally kicking Trump, the not-so-great pumpkin, to the curb. Make sure you have a voting plan in place so you can hit the polls on November 3rd with confidence.  

So far, the voter turnout has been unreal, with tens of millions of Americans (many of whom are first time voters!) turning in their ballots across the country. But we need to keep that momentum going. It’s up to you to vote along with them in the next few days.

Depending on your state, you might still be able to vote early. Or, if you’ve been holding onto your mail-in ballot, you can find your nearest ballot drop-off location. Or maybe you’re like me and waiting to vote on the big day -- you can confirm your polling location hasn’t changed so you don’t show up in the wrong place. Now that would be scary. 

The biggest trick Trump and Senate Republicans can pull on you is making you think your vote doesn’t matter. Don’t fall for it. Instead, treat yourself to some sweet civic engagement and make your plan to vote.

Happy Halloween and stay spooky! 

Sami Diaz
Digital Strategist, Stand Up America