One thing I know is that the hard core 35% (or so) of Americans who support Trump will show up and will vote for him regardless. I know this election will be all about turn-out. And Trump’s folks will turn out. You know it. I know it. And Trump knows it to. That’s exactly why his strategy is to provide as many obstacles as possible to likely voters who might oppose him.
There is a lot of anger and frustration over the latest round of GOP and Trump led vote suppression be it closing polling stations, or attacking absentee and mail-in balloting, or disassembling the Post Office. I applaud those who seek to advance institutional solutions be they pressing for congressional actions or participating in protests.
My belief and fear is that the timeline for effectively reversing anything is already in the past. This leaves it up to the citizenry to act. I have two ideas that I need some help in vetting and if acceptable then implementing
Mobile Voter Delivery
If the USPS remains entangled in disassembly and disarray, then ballots ought to be delivered to actual drop-off locations — short-circuiting the postal service. I understand enough about election law that even where legal (and, yes, I know it is not even legal in some places), the idea of collecting actual completed ballots for delivery to official ballot deposit locations can be viewed as problematic. I propose instead to deliver voters with their completed ballots to official ballot deposit locations. Sort of an Uber for Voters with their Ballots. All volunteers. No charge for the service. No tipping. Where I live, in California, this would be a little helpful but not as impactful as in areas and states where polling locations have been shut down, hours deceased and other impediments to voting implemented. If this is a good idea, how to I collect volunteers and connect them with voters? How do I get the word out? How do I do it quickly? What are the obstacles to success?
Voting Line Attendants
In-person voting remains a traditional approach and a comfortable one for many citizens. With a diminishing number of polling stations, limited hours and likely inclement weather even the highly motivated voter may experience discomfort and inconvenience. To make waiting in long lines more tolerable, I suggest mobilization of volunteers who provide free water and snacks to those waiting to vote (regardless of party affiliation) as well as free loaner umbrellas and lightweight space blankets and possibly loaning camping-style chairs for those in need. Everything at no charge to slightly improve the wait. I might even suggest light non-partisan entertainment (troubadours, close-up magicians, musicians) to help pass the time.
Both are big(ish) ideas but I have no inkling of how to proceed. I am looking for some guidance here. And part of the problem is that I am not sure that my ideas will have much benefit locally as much as they might in swing states where I have no connection. I need your help to advance these ideas if they are any good and to make them real.
Let me know what you think and if you can help
