COVID Update August 13: There is one very unsafe activity that leads to significant spread.

NOT voting.

And despite roadblocks, it can be done safely. 1/

You will not learn anything about the virus from this thread. Apologies.

If you share it, this may be the most important thread to reduce the virus’s spread however. 2/

Unlike the virus, where there have almost no national suppression efforts, voter suppression efforts have been strong.

So we scoured state websites & called states. Leads me to conclude no matter the barrier, it’s much safer to vote than not. 3/

We are voting to pick a strategy & a team for managing the pandemic.

That’s why in some ways, this is the safest thing you can do is vote. 4/

I have to get this out of the way first:

There is a special corner down a special set of stairs in a special room in a dark dark corner of a special place in hell for people who are part of efforts to suppress the vote. 5/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-mail-voting/2020/08/13/3eb9ac62-dd70-11ea-809e-b8be57ba616e_story.html%3foutputType=amp

Ok, ready to move on. Sorry.

I think of it this way, if you want masks made available & encouraged in every part of the country, for there to be sufficient tests & science based FDA & CDC heads, this is your chance.

If you think steady as she goes is good & don’t want all that, you can do that too. 7/

I’d say there are tens or hundreds of thousands of lives on the line. And how quickly schools & the economy comes back. But that’s my opinion.

Makes it seem unsafe not to vote. 8/

First understand the voter suppression activities happening.

And the people most negatively impacted by Cornonavirus turn out to be the ones facing the most voter suppression. 9/

Here’s just a few.

-A major post office slowdown will treat your ballot like bulk not first class mail
-Defunding machines/reducing & changing locations
-Not requiring masks to discourage poll workers
-Websites w contradictory info
-Much more. 10/

So how to do it in the safest way?

To start with, you have some options.

-Vote in person or by mail.
-If in person, vote Election Day OR well in advance (better).

Either way, this is not a November thing. The process begins NOW. 11/

What to do:
1. Register if you’re not— immediately. In some states it needs to be well in advance
2. If voting by mail request a ballot— immediately & mail early. You can confirm receipt.
3. Vote— if in person in most states you can vote early. Should be safer than day of. 12/

I’ve picked 13 states here as examples but check your state website to see these dates.

If your ballot isn’t received by Nov 3 it isn’t counted. Therefore no need to wait!

Voting begins early in most states. 13/

Voting in person is safer with shorter lines & you can be sure it counts.

Wear a mask. Don’t let anyone breathe on you. Bring ID if needed. 14/

If you want to vote in person, here’s when you can:

Arizona: 27 days til Friday prior
Florida: Oct 24-31
Georgia: Oct 12-30
Iowa: Oct 5-Nov 2
Michigan: 45 days til Nov 2
Minnesota: Sep 18 til Nov 2

15/

Nebraska: 30 days til Nov 2
New Hampshire: vote Election Day only (WTF?)
North Carolina: Oct 15-31
Ohio: Oct 7-Nov 2
PA: Mail in only
Texas: October 13-30
Wisconsin: 14 days before, dates vary locally

16/

If an excuse is required to vote by mail or vote early in your state, your state website will list what acceptable reasons are are.

If voter ID is required bring it.

Check polling places & hours since they may change them on you. 17/

If voting early in many states it ends the Friday before Election Day. If you haven’t voted early or by mail, you can vote day of of course.

Get there in plenty of time and socially distance. If you spend 30 minutes indoors with a mask not face to face, your risk is very low.18/

If you are voting by mail, there are some dates in your state to pay attention to.

AZ: can request now through Oct 3 when you register
FL: now through Oct 31* (register to vote by Oct 5)
GA: request by Oct 30* (Register by Oct 5)
Iowa: by Oct 30*
Michigan: by Oct 30* 19/

MN: No deadline. Do ASAP
NH: Sept 1 deadline (WTF?)
NC: Oct 27, register by Oct 9
Ohio: Oct 31*
PA: Oct 27 (received by); must be registered first
TX: Oct 23* w excuse
WI: Received by Oct 30*

20/

*Given USPS issues, do not wait until the deadline. I would target OCTOBER 15 to mail your ballot. That is 60 days.

Again, the theme here is keeping you safe. With post office concerns, that’s safest.

21/

Other points.
1. You’re hiring a new Senate & House. This is the Senate that decided not to pass a COVID relief package.
2. Today’s Water & Sewage Commussioner is tomorrow’s Senate candidate. Stop the bozos in their tracks. Vote the entire ballot.
3. Help register others.22/ https://twitter.com/aslavitt/status/1294014597721141253

You can link to your Secretary of State website. And these two websites are very useful with all the information you need. 23/

http://Rockthevote.org 
http://Vote.org 

There’s more you can do.

-Help get PPE to poll workers
-Help marginal communities vote
-Call for your favorite candidates
-Support get out the vote efforts

Remember this. It’s an election year. This is the time when our elected public figures pander. You are literally seeing them at their best— it gets no better.

Thousands are dying every day, millions are out of work & the Senate is on vacation. You can make it a long one. /end