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This morning I finally watched the sun rise on November 3, 2020. What a day. What a date. It's the day we have all been thinking about and working towards for four years. On November 8, 2016 I was a volunteer lawyer doing voter protection in Las Vegas. I endured and observed quite a bit of 1950s-style racism, voter suppression, and flat out intimidation. It was a long, hard day but a vivid example of what voting looks like without the protections of the Voting Rights Act. I am the first member of my family born after the Voting Rights Act was passed and had never known a world without it. Until I did.
Over the past four years we have seen a wave of suppressive laws and tactics from all levels of government unlike anything we have seen in decades. We have seen voter ID laws take over the country, voter purges, massive corruption, and your every day amount of politicians who either lie, cheat, and steal or sit back and watch it happen. Let's face it, it hasn't been great.
BUT, we have also seen something incredible. We've seen Americans get more fired up than they have in decades. We have seen volunteerism, activism, and engagement at all time highs. We have seen voter turnout for midterms, local, and even special elections break records. And now, during this marvelous election season, we are seeing voter turnout at rates that voting rights activists only dream about.
That day in 2016 made me come out of founder retirement, break my oath never to start another nonprofit, and figure out a self care routine that would prevent the return of activist burnout. I started Spread The Vote and have not looked back in four very long, and at the same time, very short years. And now we are here.
And tomorrow, we will still be here.
Because my greatest hope is that on November 4th America wakes up and keeps working. My dream is that Americans now truly understand that the work never ends, that democracy depends on our daily engagement, and that there are millions and millions of people who need us to keep going.
Tomorrow, Spread The Vote + Project ID will still be getting IDs. Tomorrow, we will still be talking about voting. Tomorrow our 501c4 will still be building strategies to pass pro-ID legislation across the country. Ok, sure, we're taking a short vacation, but the work continues. For us, and for you.
Thank you for standing with us for these four years. Let's vote today, get a good night's rest, and wake up tomorrow still fighting for this country.
Happy Election Day,
Kat Calvin
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