We are less than 30 days away from one of the most consequential elections of our lifetimes. On ballots all over the country, basic human rights from abortion access to voting access, are either won or lost by how we vote on November 8th. Democracy itself is on the ballot. When we refuse to vote, we give anti-democratic, authoritarians to take more power away from us. The 2022 midterms is not a “practice-run” for the presidential election of 2024. These midterms will decide if we can even have a fair presidential election in 2024. This election will decide the fate of not just our lives, but the lives of our children and grandchildren. This is not the time to sit aside and “wait for the next election”. Anti-democratic forces are hoping that we sit this out. They are spending serious money on ads, propaganda and misinformation to discourage voters. They are passing laws in the dead of night to make access to the ballot box more difficult. If this election was just a “practice”, why would they go through all this trouble? Our opposition knows the stakes, and it’s time for us to get real. So what do we do?
In this moment, we need to be having real conversations with real voters. Full stop. Either through phone banks or text banks, we have to tell as many voters how high the stakes are in this midterm election. That’s why we set an ambitious goal of reaching 4 million voters across the country and if I am being honest, we aren’t close to that goal at the moment. That scares me. As a young, Black man living in one of the poorest cities in the country, I cannot afford to not pay attention. I cannot afford to sit out. When we sit out, when we “wait for the next one”, people are hurt and people die. UUs, when we wake up on the morning of November 9th, are we going to be able to say “I gave it my all”? Are we going to be able to live with the results of this election without talking to one voter? I won’t be. And I hope you won’t be either.
Now is the time to phone bank. I know it can be scary and difficult but when we come together as a beloved community, the work gets easier, the load gets lighter and the impact becomes greater. Having a conversation with voters can increase turnout by about 3%. Doesn’t sound like a lot? Think of it this way. 3% of the state of Georgia’s general population is 300,000. The state of Georgia was decided in 2020 by a margin of 11,000 votes. That is .23% of 1% of the total votes cast. Every vote counts. Every call matters.
So I am asking you to join at least one of our phone banks between now and election day. I hope you sign up for more because we need your voice.
Sign up here!
Join our Weekend of Action Rally and Phone bank on Saturday, October 15th at 3:30pm ET/2:30 CT as we call voters in Wisconsin ahead of the upcoming election. We will have special guests including an address from UUA President Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick Gray! It is sure to be a great event, I hope to see you there. Bring a friend!
Can’t make calls? Sponsor a phone bank! Phone banks cost money and we need support if we are going to reach our goal of contacting 4 million voters. Donate here!
I joined UU the Vote because I saw how impactive you all were in 2020. We can do that again, friends. We can exceed our goals but we have to do it together. We have to do hard things and push all the way through Election Day.
Yours in Organizing,
JaZahn Hicks
