Who I’m voting for

2020 has been unlike any other year in our lives, and the election this year is the most important of our lives (and I hope the last election where the stakes are this high). I’ve been vocal on Instagram about making a plan to vote, and getting involved. With just 15 days away, I figured I would share on the blog in case people need additional resources on why voting early is important this year, and how you can still get involved.

Check to make sure your state doesn’t have laws against taking a photo with your ballot before you snap that selfie.

resources

Jess Keys of The Golden Girl blog wrote this amazing post with all the resources anyone could need. Jess, along with the other Jess, both really inspired me to use my voice this election.

If you still aren’t sure how you’re going to vote, visit iwillvote.com. The website makes it super easy to see if you’re registered and assess all of your voting options.

why vote early?

As I spoke about on my Instagram stories, voting early is important for a lot of reasons this year. One major one being the pandemic. If you vote early or vote by mail, then nothing is left to chance. If you are (God forbid) exposed to covid around election day, then your opportunity to vote could be gone if you have to isolate. Unfortunately with the pandemic this is a very real potential scenario, and why it’s best to vote as soon as possible.

how I voted

I opted to vote by mail this year, and I was very nervous about it until I found out I could check online if my ballot was counted or rejected. If it had been rejected for some reason, I would have been able to go vote in person on November 3rd. But, mine was already received and counted! I’m so glad that voting by mail is a viable and safe option.

how to get involved

If you need a reason to vote, or aren’t planning to vote this year, please send me a message so I can persuade you. Every vote is so important this year. There are so many things on the line, I don’t want to imagine a world where Joe Biden doesn’t win. So, I have also signed up to text bank with Women for Biden. I don’t want to have any regrets after the election, and if you feel the same way then sign up to phone or text bank! Because when women show up, we win.

who I’m voting for

I voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. I want to share with you why, as I originally shared on Instagram.

I’m voting because the weight of everything has become too heavy to bear.

I’m voting because I do not want to feel embarrassed to be American every time I am abroad.

I’m voting for all of the people in this country who feel like they don’t have a voice, who need help, who want equality, who want to be looked at as the beautiful human they are and not judged simply because of their skin color.

I’m voting because OVER 210,000 PEOPLE have senselessly died from coronavirus here, leaving family and friends behind to mourn their lives that could’ve been saved if things had been different.

I’m voting because I’m infuriated.

I’m voting because access to healthcare should not be a privilege, it is a human right.

I’m voting because too many people have been taken from us by gun violence.

I’m voting for this incredible earth we inhabit, that is sick because of the way it has been treated.

I’m voting because the homeless people on the corner deserve a solution.

I’m voting for all the women I know.

I’m voting because of the heartbreak I hold when I think about all of the pain in this world that people are suffering through.

I’m voting because I miss my normal life and I want borders to be open again.

I’m voting because I don’t want every social interaction to be filled with anxiety, I want an end to this pandemic.

I’m voting because I don’t want to wake up after the election and feel defeated like I did four years ago, and have every day since.

I’m voting because I have hope for the future and I want this world to be better, not worse. I want to live with hope, and not fear.

If 2020 has shown us anything it is that we could not continue existing the way we were on this earth.

So many major events have happened this year: a global pandemic, raging forest fires, the black lives matter movement, borders closing, planes grounded, loss of lives and jobs and normalcy, the stock market crashing, protests and riots, the death of RBG.

This is truly the election of our lives.

PLEASE PLEASE VOTE NOW AND REMEMBER TO KEEP WEARING A MASK.