Here were are in the last days of the campaign and YES it can be a little terrifying, huh?
The good news is that WE CAN WIN if we GET OUT THE VOTE. And there is always something we can do. No one of us has to do everything; that’s impossible. But each one of us can pick our lane and do what we can, and collectively we can have a tremendous impact. And if you’re suffering from election anxiety, the very best thing I can counsel (short of professional therapy, which I also highly recommend) is to DO SOMETHING. I always feel a hundred times better when I do something practical to make things better.
So what are some options? Glad you asked! Read on for some suggestions – as well as a calendar of what I’ve signed up to do over these final days! Please pick your lane and get started!
Vote Early!
If your state permits, please do vote early! Voting early not only feels GREAT, it gets your name off of the lists Democratic groups use to get out the vote, which lets them allocate their resources better in the final critical days. And it reduces the chances of long lines on Election Day and helps you avoid other right wing voter suppression tactics.
Throw Some Money Around
Yes, money talks and if you have a few bucks, you can make a difference by donating to groups that are getting out the vote. I’ve personally been fundraising for Asian Americans for Democracy, who are helping get out the AANHPI vote in key swing states. Please feel free to check them out and toss them a few bucks!
I’m also partial to LOLGOP‘s pitch for funding down ballot candidates in key states. You can give to help win a trifecta in Arizona or fund the Movement Voter PAC.
Or just search for your preferred candidate at ActBlue and toss ’em some dollars.
And here’s a fun one – Pizza to the Polls is a non-partisan group that sends pizza to people waiting in line to vote. Sounds almost like a bit or a joke, but it’s a really important push back against vicious voter suppression all around the country!
Write Letters to Voters!
I love Vote Forward, a group that lets you write letters to historically marginalized voters to encourage them to vote. I’ve volunteered for them many times in the past and I’m doing it again – join me here!
The last day to write and send letters through Vote Forward is Tuesday, October 29, so please do sign up NOW! Like right now, friends!
Textbank, Phonebank, or Canvass!
The tried-and-true way to get voters to the polls is to contact them directly and encourage them to go vote. Campaigns and other groups use volunteers like you and me to send texts, make phone calls, or hit the streets. It’s incredibly easy to get involved – just go to mobilize.us and search for your area or a candidate you support and you’ll find loads of opportunities.
Some specific organizations I love and would recommend volunteering for right now include Fair Fight, VoteRiders, Mobilizing Michigan (phone banks and text banks), and Rep. Chris Rabb in Pennsylvania.
The great thing is that there’s something for everyone here. If you want to stretch a leg and meet people in person, sign up to canvas. If you like talking on the phone, phone bank! If you’re a little more introverted but like typing on your computer or phone, textbanking is for you!
Phonebanking and textbanking events typically happen online and consist of a zoom room where enthusiastic coordinators will train you. Then you’ll use your computer or phone to use their simple program to make the calls or send the texts. Your actual phone number will never be revealed to the folks you’re contacting, so your privacy is protected. It’s simple and fun and not only helps get out the vote but gives you a sense of community with the organizers and volunteers. You can see a bunch of things I’ve signed up to do in the calendar at the bottom of the post. Check it out and go for it!
Share the Stop Project 2025 Comics With Reluctant Voters
![Two panels from the Stop Project 2025 comic:
Panel 2
The red suited figures pick up the lunch trays, taking them away from the children. A boy is still staring at his spoon full of goop, while a girl turns around in shock as her lunch is stolen.
MAN IN SUIT: On second thought…
GIRL: Hey!
CAPTION: Reduce of the number of free school lunches.
CAPTION: The Community Eligibility Program (CEP) “allows schools or school districts with high rates of poverty to offer meals to all students without having to qualify each student individually.”*
CAPTION: Project 2025 states “Congress should eliminate CEP.” [2025, p 303]
FOOTNOTE: *https://firstfocus.org/resource/how-project-2025-would-leave-kids-babies-hungrier-less-healthy/
Panel 3
We look over the shoulder of a red suited figure who is pointing at some kids lined up outside a school. The kids look shocked and hungry, and they are clutching empty lunch trays.
CAPTION: Eliminate summer meals for many kids.
MAN IN SUIT: Scram!
CAPTION: Furthermore, Project 2025 says “the USDA should not provide meals to students during the summer unless students are taking summer-school classes.”
CAPTION: They call summer meals for hungry kids “a federal catering program.” [2025, p 303]](https://gregpak.com/gpn/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/screen-shot-2024-10-27-at-1.19.54-pm.png?w=1024)
Do you have folks in your life who might not be motivated to vote, or who think both parties are the same? Please check out the Stop Project 2025 Comic, which simply and clearly explains why the Republican Project 2025 plan would ruin our country and hurt us all in so many ways.
Check out the comics here, pick a topic you care about, and share with everyone!
Here’s What I’m Doing (or Recommend)!
I’m either personally doing or highly recommend the events below. I’ll add more as I figure ’em out, so feel free to come back for more suggestions!
Sunday, 10/27
5 pm ET – Friendbank with Rep. Chris Rabb in PA – online event (This one’s for folks who live in Philly, so I’m not doing it, but I love Chris (went to college with him!) and highly recommend it!)
8 pm ET – Vote Forward rally – online event
Monday, 10/28
4 pm ET – Vote Forward Letter Writing – online event
5 pm ET – Fair Fight phone bank – online event (May or may not personally be at this one because of the Vote Forward letter writing party above, but this sounds AMAZING and I’m doing the one on the 29th.)
Tuesday, 10/29
5 pm ET – Fair Fight phone bank – online event
5:30 pm ET – Friendbank with Rep. Chris Rabb in PA – online event (This one’s for folks who live in Philly, so I’m not doing it, but I love Chris (went to college with him!) and highly recommend it!)
Wednesday, 10/30
7 pm ET – PA Text Bank with VoteRiders and B-PEP – online starting at 7 pm (and in-person in PA starting at 6:15)
7-9 pm ET – Call-O-Ween II: Swing Left Senate phonebank with Kathryn Hahn and others! I know a lot of nerds follow me — the celebs in attendance might make this one right up your alley!
Friday, 11/1
9 am ET – VoteRiders text banking – online event – must already be trained by VoteRiders. UPDATE 11/1: They’re done with initial texts for today, Friday, but you can sign up for other VoteRiders textbanks over the weekend. Show up as early as the confirmation email tells you you can – they run out of texts quick! 🙂
Saturday, 11/2
1-3 pm ET – Indivisible and Fated Mates: Romancelandia Phonebank Party! – looks like a blast! They’ll announce the actual candidates they’re supporting with this later – but I’m gonna trust that Indivisible and Fated Mates knows where to make the most impact!
5 pm ET – Mobilizing Michigan Text Bank – online event
Sunday, 11/3
VARIABLE – Michigan Democrats phone bank – slots available all day – online
10:30 am – 12:30 pm – Philadelphia Ballot Cure Phone Bank with the Working Families Party – Ballot cure phone banks are HUGELY important – helping folks whose ballots may have problems that could prevent them from being counted. Could be the margin of victory in critical states! I’ve signed up for this one!
12-3 pm ET – Michigan Victory Phone Bank – there are actually LOADS of slots for phonebanking with the Michigan Democrats throughout the weekend – this is just the one they say Elizabeth Warren might visit (!!!). Visit their mobilize.us signup page for more options!
3:30-6:00 pm ET – Ballot Cure Training and Phonebank with Harris for President & Michigan Voter Protection – online
Monday, 11/4
VARIABLE – VoteRiders Text Bank – if you’re ALREADY trained with VoteRiders to textbank, please do sign up for this! The signup form says 9 am to 9 pm, but they’ll send an email on the day with the actual times and links. So far, I’ve been seeing them do two textbanks a day, and the initial texts run out pretty quickly, so show up at the time they start!
VARIABLE – Michigan Democrats phone bank – slots available all day – online
VARIABLE – Harris-Walz Nevada Voter Protection phone bank – slots all day!
VARIABLE – Montana Democrats Phone Bank – slots all day! – We need to keep John Tester in the US Senate to retain our majority, so feel free to help call Montana Democrats here!
12-2 pm – Philadelphia Ballot Cure Phone Bank with the Working Families Party – Ballot cure phone banks are HUGELY important – helping folks whose ballots may have problems that could prevent them from being counted. Could be the margin of victory in critical states! NOTE: this org has us dialing through our own phones, so if privacy is important to you, you might want to create a disposable Google Voice number to use instead.
5 pm Central – Texas AFL-CIO textbank for Collin Allred – online
6 pm ET – Michigan Victory Ballot Cure Phone Bank – online
Tuesday, 11/5
VARIABLE – VoteRiders Text Bank – if you’re ALREADY trained with VoteRiders to textbank, please do sign up for this! The signup form says 9 am to 9 pm, but they’ll send an email on the day with the actual times and links. So far, I’ve been seeing them do two textbanks a day, and the initial texts run out pretty quickly, so show up at the time they start!
VARIABLE – Michigan Democrats phone bank – slots available all day – online
VARIABLE – Harris-Walz Nevada Voter Protection phone bank – slots all day! Cure ballots in Nevada!
VARIABLE – Harris-Walz Voter Protection phone bank – slots all day! Cure ballots wherever the campaign needs it to be done!
VARIABLE – Montana Democrats Phone Bank – slots all day! – We need to keep John Tester in the US Senate to retain our majority, so feel free to help call Montana Democrats here!
11 am – 1 pm ET – Election Day Phone Bank hosted by Trek the Vote – this is a Fair Count event and looks awesome and I signed up. Looks like they’re having some surprise Star Trek guests! Calls are going into Georgia and Mississippi.
12-2 pm – Philadelphia Ballot Cure Phone Bank with the Working Families Party – Ballot cure phone banks are HUGELY important – helping folks whose ballots may have problems that could prevent them from being counted. Could be the margin of victory in critical states! NOTE: this org has us dialing through our own phones, so if privacy is important to you, you might want to create a disposable Google Voice number to use instead.
5 pm ET – Mobilizing Michigan Text Bank – online event
Wednesday, 11/6
6-8 pm ET – Harris for President Ballot Cure Training and Phonebank – Michigan – yes, this is the day AFTER the election, and it’s both sobering and encouraging to see this listed. Ballot curing means you’re helping folks fix problems with their ballots that could prevent them from being counted. If the election in Michigan is close, the success of ballot curing programs could provide the margin of victory.
Thanks for reading to the end! Now go back to the top and pick one of these things and DO IT or SIGN UP! You’ll feel GREAT and you’ll be my personal HERO!
Finally, please do feel free to follow me on Bluesky – that’s where I’m doing all my election posting and where I’ll plug the latest and greatest ways to help out as I discover them. There are a bunch of very politically active folks there with good info and action items – here’s a starter pack of folks to follow over there for your consideration!
LET’S DO THIS!
