Showing posts with label election2020. Show all posts

We are officially in the sprint to election day, the final stretch, the few days that could swing the election. If you haven't already voted, please do so early if you're able (too much can go wrong on Election Day) or drop your ballot at a ballot box (it is too late to mail now BUT if that is truly your only option drop it in the mail and cross your fingers). 

The next few days are a whole team effort, here are ways to get involved: 

Women for Biden Get Out the Vote Marathon: Join women across the country as we rally these last four days for a GOTV marathon. From Saturday through Election Day, join us as we help voters in swing states get to the polls. A virtual campaign "dance marathon," every day will feature phone bank trainings, surprise guests, dance breaks and calling voters to ensure they have what they need to VOTE.

Get Out the Vote: Get Out the Vote has virtual opportunities (I'm calling voters in PA to make sure they know where to drop off their ballots) and in-person opportunities such as canvassing and poll watching. Go to the website and select your state (or any state if your's isn't listed) for opportunities.)

Phone Banking for Biden: 2020 Victory Fund has lots of virtual events over the next few days to support voters.

Election Protection Volunteers: This organization has opportunities for legal professionals (law students, paralegals, lawyers) and for regulars like us. Hotlines, poll watching training, etc. 

Volunteer with Chefs for the Polls: Bae Jose Andres' World Central Kitchen is at it again providing food to the polls in states with notoriously messy polling places. 

Feed the Polls: If you're in Philly, Denver, Phoenix, or Miami you can sign up here to volunteer to get food to voters waiting in long lines. You can also donate $$ here.

Donate to get pizza to people in long lines in 39 states


A note about phone banking: I am top 10 most awkward people I know. I hate talking on the phone - what is it 1995? And are people going to be mad at me for calling them? And, and, and? But here's the thing: phone banking increases voter turnout by 4% which is more than enough to win an election so my personal concerns are null. Yes, I hope by the next election we are not in a global pandemic where we can actually canvass but right now this is what we've got. I've done phone banking since January and it is a) very easy - minimal thinking involved, b) very straightforward - you log on, you don't have to download anything, and you follow a very specific script. We can do hard things.

Election 2020: Volunteering in THE Home Stretch Weekend

Saturday, October 31, 2020

 It's almost election day and the fight to sway voters is going to go until the last poll closes. Tomorrow I'll send out election day volunteer opportunities (please send me any opps you know of for me to compile & share), and preparing for Election Day. 

Friendly reminder about boundaries that came up in my small group yesterday - we need them, especially now. Let's bust it to get Joe and Kamala in office, and maintain our health at the same time. This article has especially helpful tips for how to set and maintain healthy boundaries. 

Today we're going to talk about Joe Biden's Healthcare plan. In message testing, this is the second most influential message in swaying voters behind economic recovery. Sharable infographic here


The message

Joe Biden wants to give everyone a choice to enroll in a health plan, make sure no American pays more than 8.5% of their income on premiums, and bring down the cost of prescriptions by allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug companies.


The Plan: Health Insurance Access

  •  Affordable health insurance for all: a new choice for a public option like Medicare
  • No one will pay more than 8.5% of income on health insurance. 
  • Increase the size of tax credits to provide more coverage, lower deductibles, and lower out-of-pocket costs.
  • Expand coverage to low-income Americans by automatically enrolling those who make 138% below the federal poverty level.

Health Care: Affordability

Biden and Harris will cut the cost of health care and make the health care system less complex to navigate.
  • Stop "surprise billing"
  • Tackle market concentration
  • Partner with the health care workforce 


Health Care: Prescription Drugs

Many Americans cannot afford prescription drugs while drug companies profit off of sick individuals. Biden and Harris plan to address this by:
  • Repeal exception allowing drug corps to avoid negotiation with Medicare over drug prices.
  • Limit launch prices for drugs that face no competition.
  • Limit price increases for brand, biotech & generic drugs.
  • Allow consumers to buy prescriptions from other countries.
  • Terminate pharmaceutical corps' tax break for ad spending.
  • Improve supply of quality generics.


Health Care for All

Joe Biden believes that every American – regardless of gender, race, income, sexual orientation, or zip code – should have access to affordable and quality health care. 
  • Defend health care protections regardless of gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation
  • Double America’s investment in community health centers
  • Expanding access to contraception and protect the constitutional right to an abortion
  • Expand access to mental health care

2020 Election: Joe Biden's Plan for Healthcare

Thursday, October 29, 2020

I want to start off by acknowledging the police shooting of Walter Wallace, Jr. My privilege finds it unbelievable that this continues to happen over and over and over again, and my heart is broken. Reminder to please focus on the issue (police training, Black lives) and not the distractions (looting). 

We NEED a change and we are in the most important days of 2020 leading up to this election. As we discussed, the most impactful way to sway voters is to tell them about Joe Biden's plans, and today we're talking about the higher education plan.

The Message

Joe Biden is running for president to rebuild the backbone of the United States – the middle class – and this time make sure everyone has a chance to come along. In today’s increasingly globalized and technology-driven economy, 12 years of education is no longer enough for American workers to remain competitive and earn a middle class income. 

The Plan: Community College

  • Provide two years of community college or  training program without debt
  • Create a new grant program to assist improve student access to community college
  • Tackle the barriers that prevent students from completing their community college / training credential.
  • $50 billion investment in workforce training, including community-college business partnerships and apprenticeships.
  • Make public colleges and universities tuition-free for all families with incomes below $125,000

The Plan: 4 Year College

  • Double the maximum value of Pell grants to increase the number of middle-class students who can attend college
  • People making $25,000 or less per year will not owe any payments on their undergraduate federal student loans and also won’t accrue any interest on those loans. Everyone else will pay 5% of their discretionary income
  • FIX loan forgiveness for public servants

The Plan: Institutions
  • Establish a grant program to support under-resourced schools that serve large numbers of Pell-eligible students. The funds will be used to foster collaboration between colleges and community-based organizations to provide wraparound support services for students, especially veterans, single parents, low-income students, students of color, and students with disabilities who may face unique challenges.
  • Stop for-profit education programs from profiteering off of students.
  • Crack down on private lenders profiting off student debt
  • Protect post-9/11 GI benefit for veterans and qualified family members
  • 18 billion in grants to these four-year schools, equivalent to up to two years of tuition per low-income and middle class student, including DREAMers and students who transfer to a four-year HBCU, TCU, or MSI from a tuition-free community college.

2020 Election: Joe Biden's Plan for Higher Education

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

 


Two weeks to the biggest election of our lifetime y'all  As we discussed, the most effective way to sway voters is to spread the word about Joe Biden's plans (NOT spreading negative stories about 45). Send a few emails, post on Facebook, repost the Instagram post that outlines it. Today we are discussing the #3 most persuasive topic for voters: Education. Some of you may remember that I used to work in education (in public schools and then policy) so this 👏 is 👏 my 👏 JAM. 

Talking Points

  • As president, Joe Biden will provide educators the support and respect they need and deserve and invest in all children from birth, so that regardless of their zip code, parents’ income, race, or disability, they are prepared to succeed in tomorrow’s economy.
  • Joe and Kamala want to get everyone back to school safely, and they have a plan. They would get schools clear guidelines and resources to implement them, support state and local officials, and always follow the science. 
  • In the long term, Joe and Kamala believe every American should have access to quality, affordable higher education. Joe and Kamala’s plan makes public college tuition-free for the vast majority of families, offers free community college for all, and invests $70 billion in HBCUs and other Minority-Serving Institutions.

    The Plans

    Educators
    President Biden will support our educators by giving them the pay and dignity they deserve.
    • Joe Biden will triple Title I funding to provide higher pay for teachers in low income districts.
      • Note: Title I provides financial assistance to local educational agencies for children from low-income families 
    • Fix and simplify existing Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, creating a system that actually helps
      • Note:  If you teach full-time for five years in a low-income school or educational service agency, teachers may be eligible for forgiveness of up to $17,500. Like most other govt programs, this is extremely complicated to navigate and requires lots of red tape cutting that many can't do.
    • Invest in teacher mentoring, leadership, and additional education, providing opportunities for teachers to advance their careers and keeping quality teachers in schools.

    Students
    Joe Biden will invest in resources for our schools so students grow into physically and emotionally healthy adults, and educators can focus on teaching.
    • Double the number of psychologists, counselors, nurses, social workers, and other health professionals in  schools 
    • Turn schools into community hubs that provide this wraparound support for an additional 300k students & families
    • Funding specifically for improving public school buildings. to address health risks
    • Defeat the NRA - again - to keep schools safe

    Early Childhood
    Joe Biden will start investing in our children at birth.
    • Universal Pre-K for 3 and 4 year-olds
    • Expand home visits through the ACA 
    • Fund early childhood experts in community centers
    Tomorrow we'll focus on Joe Biden's plans for higher education - stay tuned!

    2020 Election: Understanding Joe Biden's Education Plan

    Tuesday, October 20, 2020

    Alright yall, the countdown to the biggest election of our lifetime is on, let's hit the streets. As we discussed, the most impactful way to sway voters is to inform them of Joe Biden's plans as that information is not making its way to people as quickly/memorably as Trump news. Today we're going to talk about the Biden Harris plan for economic recovery. Trump leads Biden in voters' confidence in the ability to revive the economy, but messaging around Biden's economic plan has been one of the most proven topics to move the needle for voters. I'll also be sharing graphics on Instagram that outline what's below in case that is easier to share.


    How to have conversations about the 2020 election

    These are intense times and if you have a pulse it's basically impossible to stay calm in these conversations. In my phone bank trainings we learned a helpful model called the LARC:
    L- Listen ("If you could change something about the country what would it be?)
    A - Acknowledge ("that sounds tough", "it sounds like ____")
    R- Relate ("as someone who has ____, I also care about ____")
    C - Connect ("I support Biden-Harris because they also share our concerns around _____ and have a plan for it"). 

    Joe Biden's Economic Plan 

    "Donald Trump says the economy is great because the stock market is up and wants to cut medicare, medicaid, and social security in order to fund more tax cuts for the rich. Joe Biden says a strong economy depends on a strong middle class and wants only the wealthiest 1% to pay higher taxes so we can expand health coverage, invest in clean energy and infrastructure, and create 5 million manufacturing and technology jobs." (via)

    Joe Biden will use the full powers of the Presidency to implement re-opening plans outlined by medical experts. This includes:
    • COVID testing capacity
    • Surge supplies to COVID hot spots
    • Contact tracing
    • PPE for healthcare workers 
    • Ensure healthcare facilities have the supplies they need such as ventilators
    • Protections for frontline workers
    • Bold action vs. arbitrary reopening dates

    Joe Biden will work with Congress to ensure relief gets to the people who need it, fast. This includes:
    • Boosting unemployment benefits
    • $377 billion in immediate small business loans with accountability to ensure money actually goes to small businesses (and not *cough cough* Kanye)
    • Expediting aid to businesses who commit to helping workers stay employed through the crisis
    • Enforce real conditions and oversight on big corporations.

    Joe Biden's plan includes financial relief for those who need it:
    • Families: Additional checks to families should conditions require.
    • Young people: Forgive a minimum of $10,000 per person of federal student loans.
    • Seniors and People with disabilities: Increase monthly Social Security checks by $200/month.
    • Working people: emergency paid sick leave to everyone who needs it
    • All people: Ensure no one has to pay out of pocket for COVID-19 testing, treatment, or vaccines.

    Joe Biden's Economic Plan: Additional Talking Points

    • Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will fight for hard-working families. 
    • As we’ve all seen, the Trump Administration rewards wealth over work, and prioritizes big corporations over working families. 
    • Joe Biden and Kamala Harris know we cannot just build things back the way they were, but we need to build a stronger and more inclusive society. 
    • Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will create millions of new jobs

    2020 Election: Understanding Joe Biden's Economic Recovery Plan

    Wednesday, October 14, 2020


    One of the topics dominating my group texts right now is the relationship strain, or complete loss of relationships, due to the upcoming election. I conducted a poll on Instagram to get some numbers around this and here is what yall said:
    • 51% have cut off relationships because of disagreements around the election
    • 81% have strained relationships because of the election
    • 67% said the strain is more with family than friends
    I asked for tips and resources on handling these conversations and people submitted a lot of really thoughtful advice which you can see on my Instagram highlights here. While there is a lot we can learn from each other on this topic, I also did some research on what the stats says works when it comes to swaying voters on the biggest presidential election of our time. Here are the takeaways: 

    Voters: The Stats

    • 11% of registered voters are undecided on who they will vote for.  
      • 53% of these voters plan to do their own research to make a final decision 
      • 20% plan to decide based on the debates.

    The Issues

    • Americans largely support Trump's "plan" for economic recovery, but support Biden on most other issues (see below): 

    • 72% of voters polled fear the rise of racism
    • 66% of voters fear rioters and looting - this is higher than percentage of voters who fear Coronavirus.
    Important note about the stats above: those polled said they do not get their news from Fox News (my first assumption). These fears come from other news sources - mostly found on social media.

    Messaging

    • Most undecided voters could recall recent negative stories about Trump but could not recall any positive stories about Biden or his policies.
    • Negative information about Trump has limited impact in swaying voters.
    • The key to swaying voters is to educate them about Joe Biden's plans and policies.
    • Messaging on specific topics has a bigger impact in swaying voters:
      • #1 (tie): the economy
      • #1 (tie): healthcare
      • #3: race issues
      • #4: climate change
      • #5: education

    Actions We Need to Take

    The research and polling says the highest impact activities we can do are those that share information about Biden's plans and policies. These actions are going to matter all the way up to the minute the polls close on Election Day.
    1. Share information about Biden's plans on social media (I will commit to synthesizing Biden's plans in a shareable format on Instagram and here on the blog. If you're not already receiving these posts as emails, sign up so you can easily forward to your networks and repost on social).
    2. Educate yourself on Biden's plans and share what you learn with your network. Here is where you can research on your own.
    3. Sign up to phone or text bank for Biden here (I've done this for months, it's very very easy and not scary at all).

    Action Steps to Sway the 2020 Presidential Election

    Monday, October 12, 2020

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