I’m behind. Way behind. Time has crept up on me.
A little over a month ago, I signed up to write 200 postcards to inconsistent Democratic voters in states with the most competitive midterm elections. Of course, I picked my home state of Texas.
I got my package of postcards lickety-split. And I opened the package right away (take that, perimenopause brain!), but there were explicit instructions about when the postcards should be mailed, which seemed like a long time in the future.
That future is this week. Yesterday actually.
I started furiously writing Monday night, using one of the pre-written, supposedly proven-effective messages (I’m a marketer, so I assume the folks at Progressive Turnout Project A/B tested them). It was clear, this was going to be a sprint to the finish.
Why can’t I write faster? When did handwriting become so hard? My husband joked the people receiving mine would think they were written by an 8-year-old because of the penmanship. I woke up with a sharp pain on the left side of my upper back the next morning and realized it must have been from how I was holding my body as I cranked out postcards. I need reinforcements. So I called in my mother.
I sent a stack of postcards home with her Tuesday night, after plying her with drinks (okay, one drink), a home-cooked meal, and a trip to the thrift store (her favorite activity). I didn’t need to ply her, though, because she had offered to help me weeks ago, which, if I had had any sense, I would have taken her up on at the time.
My mom and I have already cast our votes.
Early voting in the midterm elections started Monday in Texas, and I probably don’t have to tell you a lot is at stake here.
For months and months now, it’s been on my mind. What will happen in these midterm elections? I believe in the power of people. The collective power. And the power of just one person. I believe we each have a part to play.
I’m still naive in many ways, but I learned about a group called Amnesty International over 35 years ago when I was just 14. Amnesty believed that writing letters—enough letters—could help end human rights violations. The means of communicating have changed, but I’m still writing letters on behalf of Amnesty International to this day.
And now postcards to swing states.
According to an email I received from Progressive Turnout Project yesterday, I was one of many who helped send 23,016,000 postcards to voters in swing states.
I don’t know if my 200 postcards will be the ones to make the difference. I don’t know if the millions written by people like me and my mother will be enough to change the course of this election. And yet, I have to try. I can’t just sit by.
I have to tell you, though, I’m scared.
I’m so scared about what’s happening right now in this country. I’m scared for the world. I’m scared that power has become so concentrated in the hands of a few ultra rich and powerful who appear to be above the law. I have lots of doubts whether our efforts to get out the vote will be enough.
I had a thought yesterday. It goes back to my old college boyfriend, the one who was always hitting on my girlfriends, really anything that moved, but was always accusing me of cheating on him. Later, I found out the truth: he was the one cheating. You might know where I’m going with this. The ones protesting the most about cheating, or I don’t know, say, stealing an election, despite all evidence that it didn’t happen, might just be the ones who end up doing it.
For now, I remain hopeful that democracy and fair elections will prevail.
I’m encouraged by my fellow Americans and especially my fellow Texans who are proudly posting their I Voted Early sticker pics on their favorite platforms.
As for the postcards, I was behind, but I wasn’t too late. And neither are you.
Early voting is underway. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Make a plan. Take your mother. Don’t wait until the last minute.