Dear John, Midterm elections are about two weeks away and the stakes are high — especially when it comes to voting! The Supreme Court has chipped away at the Voting Rights Act, and a majority of states across the country have been doing the same, making it harder for underrepresented people to vote, and even supporting mis-, dis- and malinformation about our voting process. This is why voting for Secretary of State — which is an elected position at the state level — is so critical. The most important job of the Secretary of State (SOS) is serving as chief election officer in the state, giving the SOS a great deal of authority about how ballots are cast and counted — and, in some cases, how much trust we can place in the results of the election. SOS races are on the ballot in 27 states this year. In the aftermath of 2020 and the conspiracy theories that sprouted regarding results of the election that year, democracy as we know it is at serious risk. . A Secretary of State who questions the legitimacy of election results without evidence might try to make voting more difficult, or might even try to subvert future elections. Ensuring that your SOS is pro-democracy can make a huge impact on future elections in your state and in our country as a whole. Check out Vote411.org and find out who’s running for SOS in your state, their positions on the issues, and make an informed decision when you cast your ballot!  Patrick Cochran (He/Him), Advocacy and Policy Engagement Senior Coordinator
PFLAG National
P.S. For more great voting information, check out our PFLAG Votes resources at pflag.org/vote. And for direct support from our Policy and Advocacy team, contact us at [email protected]. | 
