We have TWO areas to address: – Get out the vote to assure an overwhelming turnout to flip the House and Senate blue.
– Protect the vote from the multitude of threats being attempted by the Trump Administration
GET OUT THE VOTE
In Vermont, we have only one race this year that will affect control of the US Congress; that is Rep. Becca Balint, defending her seat in the House. We will do whatever we can to assure a strong vote for her. She is a fighter and will hold the Trump Administration accountable.
Outside of Vermont, there are many races for the US House and US Senate that are critically important. While is it not as easy to do election work in another state, there are several ways that you can work for a candidate, that will help tip control of Congress.
In NY, there will be an OPEN House Seat, as Republican Elise Stefanik is not running for re-election. This seat, NY-21, is right across the Lake and includes Plattsburgh and most of the Adirondack State Park area. Democrat Blake Gendebien is facing Republican Anthony Constantino. Surprisingly, for this usually red district, this race will be close, and it is winnable.
The Democratic Candidate over there would welcome your help to help Canvass for him as he works to win that seat.
In NH, there will be an OPEN Senate Seat as Jeanne Shaheen has declined to run again. The Primary there will be on Sept. 8th, and then the race begins. It will most likely be between the Republican, John Sununu (not to be confused with ex-Governor, Chris Sununu) and the Democrat, current US Representative, Chris Pappas. This looks to be a high energy, high $$$ race.
Other States, like Texas and Michigan, etc., also have very exciting, difficult, and critical races.
There are various ways to work to end Republican control of the Congress; from post carding and phone banking, to in-person canvassing, or even donating or fund raising.
NOTE: Because some ICI donations pass through the national Indivisible organization, we are not allowed support any particular candidate directly. We can discuss candidates. You, as an individual, are free to support any candidate in whatever fashion you choose. You should contact the candidate’s campaign directly, if you can help with their campaign.
PROTECTING THE VOTE
We saw the lengths that Trump was willing to go to over-throw the election results in 2020. We will never forget the horror of January 6th. We know that he is aware that his power will be curtailed and he and his administration will be held to account, if he loses Republican control of the US House and US Senate. Even though he is not running for office in this election, in his mind, it is critically important that he NOT LOSE POWER.
So, we know that he will go to any lengths to win, disrupt, steal, or cancel, the Midterm Elections. He will probably try all of the above. We must be prepared to stop him.
We know some of the methods the Trump regime is trying to use to hang on to power. Things like trying to get The Save Act passed, to prevent millions of eligible voters from being able to vote. And the completely inoperable plan to have the US Post Office somehow compare every mail-in ballot with an inaccurate list of eligible voters, again to prevent millions of Americans from voting. The list of these ongoing ploys is already incredibly long.
Then, there is the, also long, list of threatened, suggested, and, as yet, unknown, actions that will be taken to prevent a free and fair election. Things like sending ICE to polling places to intimidate voters, sending troops to confiscate voting machines and seize ballots, or declaring a “national emergency” and suspending elections altogether.
We will not know exactly which of these threats will actually be deployed. But we can and must be prepared. Right now, groups all across the country are analyzing different scenarios and forming action plans to protect against them. We must do the same.
Indivisible Champlain Islands is a group of Island neighbors working together. We will be asking you to participate in various ways as the Midterms approach. We are engaged in the planning process now. If you would like to help with the planning, please let us know.
Two things that we already know we have to do are:
— Make more people in our communities aware of the threats and possible disruptions to the Elections. Help these people engage in the defense of the Elections. This will include businesses, church and civic groups, local government, local law enforcement. Everyone will have a part to play if the unthinkable happens, like it did on January 6th.
— Have a large volunteer force already trained and in place for Election Day. We will be asking our members to be observers at the polls so we can document any interference and raise the alarm. We will need a lot of people for this as we have 5 polling places to cover, and some will be open for 12 hours. We will also need observers after the polls close, while the ballots are counted and submitted to the State. That will probably mean 5-6 shifts of at least two observers per shift, per town. Training is being offered on-line the first week of September. LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE WILLING TO BE A VOLUNTEER POLL OBSERVER. This will be outside, not inside, the polling place. If ICE shows up to intimidate or hassle voters, you will raise the alarm. If federal troops or agents appear and try to seize voting material or stop the Election, you will raise the alarm. If MAGA Trump supporters show up to disrupt or halt the election, you will raise the alarm. And you will document what is happening with your phone. (See our Newsletter to sign up for training the first week of September, offered by The League of Women Voters of Vermont.)
On January 6th, Trump sent his supporters to one, specific, location; Congress. But this is not a national election. The Midterms elect members of Congress from every state, so the locations where the disruption can happen are literally in every town and city in America. It would not be necessary to disrupt or halt EVERY voting location; just enough to make it impossible to seat the next Congress. Which locations will be the most vulnerable? Swing states would seem likely. States controlled by Republican legislatures full of “election deniers”? Probably. But the less obvious are actually the low-hanging fruit. The smaller towns, not in “front-of-mind”, will be the ones which are completely defenseless. Small groups of local armed MAGA supporters could be just as effective as Federal Troops in towns like ours. How many towns, who are unable to submit results from the polls, would it take for Vermont to not be able to “Certify” the election of our US Representative to Congress? I have no idea. But it is a good question.
As of today, there are only 76 days left until the Midterm Election on Nov. 3rd.
This email is intended to give you a quick look at the issues and threats to the Midterms.
And a preview of the work we need to do to counter the threats.
Please make plans to participate and know that things may get gnarly, but, with your help, we will be prepared.
Thank you,
Marilyn Lagrow
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