Sisters,

It’s crunch time. Early voting is happening now in many states, and the ‘irregularities’ voters are experiencing are deeply concerning. Voters in Bexar County (Texas) report that their selections changed or disappeared while marking their ballots. Voters in Middle Tennessee said voting machines kept selecting Republican candidate Marsha Blackburn when they tried to select Democrat Jerri Green. And in Arizona, voters were wrongly flagged as noncitizens and removed from the voting rolls, only to be restored after a lawsuit.

While none of these ‘irregularities’ have been proven as voter suppression tactics to intimidate voters, the president’s request for participants at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas to pledge, “I don’t care if I’m registered or not, I’m going to try and cheat like hell like they do,” should give everyone pause. We must protect our most fundamental right in a functioning democracy—the right to vote.

Our task this week is not to be discouraged by voter suppression and intimidation tactics. Instead, let it be the reason you become even more resolved and focused on voting to elect candidates who will not only preserve our right to vote, but who will also work to fix the economic crisis facing Black women, farmers, and so many others. Elected officials who can be counted on stop the war in Iran and work for justice on behalf of all oppressed peoples, starting with people living in Gaza.

We deserve a government that will work for ALL of us.

Start by getting clear about who is running for office in your community. Before you vote, visit WE CAN’s Vote411 page and create your sample ballot. You can see which offices are on your ballot, check your voter registration, find your polling place, and learn about any ballot questions in your state.

If you’re a WE CAN activist in Maryland, join us on THIS WEDNESDAY, October 28^th, for our State Candidates Forum. All candidates running for Governor, Attorney General, and Comptroller will be there to answer your questions and make their case for your vote.

Register here for this FREE event and tune in to listen for answers to your concerns about your community and our state.

Every election is a job interview. It’s your chance to ask hard questions, decide who has earned your support, and start holding elected officials accountable for their choices.

Don’t miss this important opportunity to choose who will make decisions that affect your everyday life. Make a plan to vote and encourage everyone in your circle to make one too!

In solidarity,

Dr. Stephanie, WE CAN Founder