Eric Piehl comments on ☑ voting informed in every election

Step 2: How to vote Step 3: Vote informed
Step 4: ☑ VOTE!

Step 5: During the campaign, contact your neighbors Step 6: Anytime, contact your elected officials Step 7: Futures

Why vote?

Many elections are won or lost by less than one or two percent; some by only a few tens or hundreds of votes. It happens every election cycle. When we vote, we do make a difference.

You 👥︎ Generation-Y and Generation-Z young people have more at stake than us geezers. We boomers will help you while we can, but after we are gone, the future is up to you.

If you are Gen-Y, Gen-Z, or a cool Boomer who understands urban symbology, please see Eminem explicit video Mosh above or to right, with support by the lyrics version. For full effect, select the video image or link button, then icons ⛶ fullscreen, ㏄ captions , ▶︎ Play, and ⏯︎ ☒ Skip Ads.

All audiences can watch the second (lower) video above or at right.

This page provides some resources, to help you, with minimum work, VOTE:

In every election—in my precinct, the Primary elections are where the real decisions are made.
In every race—including those down-ballot races: Initiatives, judgeships and Drain Commissioner!

If you think you might run into 🛂︎ trouble while voting, there are remedies. Please review and 📄︎ print information in the 🛂︎ trouble section below.

Women weren't given the right to vote— they fought for it! Remember that as your next election nears.

Let's get started! Although, this year, in some jurisdictions, this information is changing rapidly …

Step 1: Register to vote

Right now …

If you live in jurisdiction:	and you wish to:	then:

🇨🇦 Canada province Ontario	☑ Verify that I am Registered to vote	See Elections Ontario.
🇨🇦 Canada province Ontario	Register to vote	See Elections Ontario.

🇺🇸 USA 50 states + DC	☑ Verify that I am Registered to vote	◦ See Election Protection coalition > select your state > expand section Registering to vote. ◦ Or I Will Vote > button Check if I'm registered to vote. ◦ Or VOTE411 > box Check Your Voter Registration Status > select your state > etc. ◦ Or go to your local city hall or township hall, or DMV or SoS office.
	Register to vote
	Registration deadline

Illinois	☑ Verify that I am Registered to vote	◦ See Illinois Online Voter Registration website. ◦ Or go to your local city hall or township hall, or DMV office.
	Register to vote
	Registration deadline
Michigan	☑ Verify that I am Registered to vote	Michigan Voter Information Center > show you are you. If your Voter Registration address does not match your Drivers License address, you must reregister to vote as in the row below!
	I moved since my last Registration	ExpressSOS > link Update Address/Profile Details; or by mail.
	Register to vote online	Michigan Voter Information Center > navigation link Register to Vote Online.
	Register to vote by mail	State of Michigan 📄︎ paper form.
	Register to vote in-person	◦ See the clerk just inside the front door of your local city hall or township hall Michigan Voter Information Center > navigation link Your Clerk > section Search By Your Address. ◦ Or at your local Michigan Secretary of State branch office. ◦ If you want, you could 📝︎ pre-fill the State of Michigan 📄︎ paper form. ◦ On Election Day, I hear you can do Instant Registration at your poling place.

Step 2: How to vote

📅︎ A month before you vote, or now if you don't know when that might be, …

If you live in jurisdiction:	and you wish to:	then:

🇨🇦 Canada province Ontario	When, where and how do I vote?	See Elections Ontario > navigate Voting, and optional navigate Accessible Voting.
🇨🇦 Canada province Ontario	Accessible voting methods

🇺🇸 USA 50 states + DC	When is the next election?	◦ See Election Protection coalition > select your state > scroll down a bit. ◦ Or VOTE411 > fill out section Personalized Voting Information > button Submit.
	Where do I vote?	◦ See VOTE411 > fill out section Personalized Voting Information > button Submit.
	How do I vote early or by mail (mail-in) or absentee?	◦ See VOTE411 > fill out section Personalized Voting Information > button Submit > link Absentee Ballot. ◦ Or Election Protection coalition > select your state > expand section Voting Early & by Absentee Ballot.
	📄︎ Print a sample ballot	◦ See I Will Vote > button Check if I'm registered to vote > fill it out and keep going—details will depend on your state. Then 📄︎ print this—yes, it is legal to print what is on your ballot, 📝︎ mark it up, and bring with you into the voting booth!

California	each of these questions	Five weeks before the election, you should be mailed a 📄︎ booklet containing all this information, including a printed sample ballot, and a tear-off postcard to request an absentee ballot!
Illinois	When is the next election?	See Illinois State Board of Elections > banner at top or right, or under section Upcoming Events.
	Where do I vote?	◦ Illinois State Board of Elections > navigate Information For Voters. ◦ Or go to your local city hall or township hall, or DMV office.
	How do I vote early or by mail (mail-in) or absentee?
	📄︎ Print a sample ballot
Michigan	When is the next election?	Michigan Voter Information Center > show you are you.
	Where do I vote?	Michigan Voter Information Center > show you are you.
	How do I vote early or by mail (mail-in) or absentee?	Starting in 2020, about 2 months before each election, you should receive information and an absentee ballot application in your mail, at your Registered address. If that doesn't work: ◦ See VOTE411 > navigation link Early Voting or Absentee Ballot Process. ◦ Or Michigan Voter Information Center > navigation link Absentee Voting. Might as well choose version Fillable, Spanish/Español or Large Print. Starting in 2020, you should now here also be able to track the status of your absentee ballot application. ◦ Or go to the clerk just inside the front door of your local city hall or township hall Michigan Voter Information Center > navigation link Your Clerk > section Search By Your Address.
	📄︎ Print a sample ballot	◦ If at above webpage > link View Your Sample Ballot. ◦ Or Michigan Voter Information Center > navigation link View Ballots by Precinct. ~~◦ Or (state-wide issues only)~~ ~~easy one-page Michigan 2018 sample ballot. (page 40)~~ Then 📄︎ print this—yes, it is legal to print what is on your ballot, 📝︎ mark it up, and bring with you into the voting booth!
	What is the status of my absentee ballot application? Did they receive my vote?	NEW, according to press, starting in 2020 … Need to verify! ◦ If at above webpage, should be listed there. ◦ Or Michigan Voter Information Center > show you are you.

While you are printing stuff, if you think you might run into 🛂︎ trouble while voting, please 📄︎ print anything you might need from the 🛂︎ trouble section below.

As it gets closer to time to vote, you will use your sample ballot to …

Step 3: Vote informed

A few days before you vote (I like Sunday, after the kids are in bed), …

Take your 📄︎ sample ballot (from the previous step ) (paper is better—your 🛂︎ poll workers may have rules against using a phone in the voting booth),
and 📝︎ mark it up in accordance with your values, and information from (sorted by mixture of usefulness and alphabetical):

Campaign flyers I received in the mail. As they come in, I just put them in a stack, until I am ready to do this analysis and 📝︎ mark up my sample ballot. Their presence tells me if locals are serious, or campaign tourists. Or are being promoted by outside organizations.
Right to Life endorsements: 🇺🇸 USA 50 states + DC (personalize myState). Michigan. Drills into judgeships and local boards that are otherwise difficult to research.
Michigan Family Forum: Michigan > Resources > Michigan Voter's Guide.
Available shortly before General Elections, this is a great list of endorsements from the Farm Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, and a variety of environmental, labor and LGBT organizations. One-stop shop!
Clean Water Action: 🇺🇸 USA 50 states + DC. Michigan > Endorsements.
Emily's List: 🇺🇸 USA 50 states + DC navigate Our Candidates > Senate, House, Governors and State & Local; or link View All Candidates.
League of Conservation Voters LCV endorsements: 🇺🇸 USA 50 states + DC yourState.
League of Conservation Voters LCV scorecard: 🇺🇸 USA 50 states + DC.
Progressive Voters Guide: Washington, California and Virginia.
Progressive Women's Alliance: West Michigan.
Sierra Club endorsements: 🇺🇸 USA 50 states + DC > link Federal Endorsements; or Michigan > link Sierra Club endorsed candidates and voter information.
League of Women Voters LWV: 🇺🇸 USA 50 states + DC > box Your Voting Guide or button Enter My Address in lower-right > button Show My Races > see each entry. Michigan > section Voter Guides. ~~Michigan 2018 Voter Guide (print version online viewer)~~ ~~Michigan 2018 Voter Guide.~~
AARP: 🇺🇸 USA 50 states + DC > various links; and/or AARP states page > your state > various links.
Personal recommendations by me:
Personal recommendations to me: Visible only on my private site.
Helps on judges: ~~🇺🇸 USA 50 states + DC~~ (do last, not sure I like it).
Your 📰︎ local newspaper's editorial page , including what they think on topics of the day, such as good governance, gerrymandering and voting systems.
For any races in which you still have no information, ☑ check websites of organizations with which you disagree. Or vote for the woman or non-traditional candidate!

While you go through this information, don't be afraid to vote for the lessor evil. Until we get instant-runoff / preferential / ranked-choice voting RCV described below we may have to hold our noses, and vote for the least-offensive candidate. Making us 👃🤏 clothespin voters!

Step 4: ☑ Vote!

☑ Vote when, where and how you found out back in Step 2.

If voting in person, on that day, …

Take your 📝︎ marked-up sample ballot (from back in Step 3 ), and fold it into your pocket.
Yes, it is legal to bring this paper into the voting booth with you—your 🛂︎ poll workers may have rules against using a phone in the voting booth.
If you have 🆔︎ government-issued picture-ID, bring it—that is simpler.
If you don't have such id, vote anyway; just be prepared for 🛂︎ poll workers to provide you a provisional ballot—hold them to it—it is your right to vote in this manner.
When you get to the polling place, if presented with several precincts and you don't know your precinct number, ask a friendly poll worker (probably one of your neighbors), or turn around—there is probably a precinct map posted on a wall or table nearby.
When you get into the ballot booth, unfold your 📝︎ marked-up sample ballot, and use it as a guide to cast your ballot quickly and accurately.
Including all those down-ballot races: initiatives, judgeships and Drain Commissioner!

If any 🛂︎ trouble while voting, in the 🇺🇸 USA, contact the:

US Department of Justice Voting Rights Hotline, 📱︎☎ 1-800-253-3931
or
ACLU Election Protection Hotline:
◦ in English 📱︎☎ 1-866-OUR-VOTE or send an 📱︎SMS text "OUR VOTE" to 97779,
◦ en Español/English 📱︎☎ 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA,
◦ in Arabic/English 📱︎☎ 1-844-418-1682 بالعربية or 📱︎☎ 1-844-YALLA-US بالعربية,
◦ 🌏︎ Asian languages Bengali, Chinese, English, Hindi, Korean, Tagalog, Urdu and Vietnamese, 📱︎☎ 1-888-API-VOTE
◦ American Sign Language ASL video call 📱︎💻︎ 1-301-818-VOTE,
or
Michigan Bureau of Elections. 📱︎☎ 1-517-373-2540
— 🇺🇸 ACLU series Know Your Rights Voter Intimidation
( Michigan ACLU Know Your Voting Rights in English, en Español, in Arabic بالعربية ).

If you see something, say something!

If you expect 🛂︎ police contact, what to do with your electronics. (page 19)

After you vote:

Give yourself a pat on the back for exercising your sacred civic duty. Thank you for helping save the world!
Save your 📝︎ marked-up sample ballot for a day or two, to see if you are a leader or a follower. Then ♻︎ recycle!

Step 5: During the campaign, contact your neighbors

Talk to your neighbors! Knock on doors for your favorite candidate! Run yourself! Or if introverted, …

If you believe:

Black Lives Matter,
No Human is Illegal,
Love is Love,
Women's Rights are Human Rights,
Science is Real [even if you don't believe it],
Water is Life, and
Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere,

then order signs like above or at right, and display in your yard.

If your yard signs get stolen by kids or thugs, 📱︎☎ call me, and I'll tell you how to reduce this greatly, restoring your constitutionally-protected free speech.

Step 6: Anytime, contact your elected officials

🚧 Under construction

In our polarized safe-seat gerrymandered culture-war world, I am not so sure contacting our elected officials does as much good as it did before. Maybe at the local level it does. Local meetings were great. As are chance encounters at the hardware store—have your elevator pitch ready.

Until ⟰ education or demographic-shifts resolve our culture-war, some contact info: 🇺🇸 USA 50 states + DC Michigan.

Step 7: Futures

[Immediate]: Social Justice

If you:

think Black Lives Matter #BLM,
want social justice, and
want a strong democracy,

then:

eliminate barriers to voting;
get people registered to vote (can refer them to this page );
inform people how to vote (can refer them to this page ); and
read One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression Is Destroying Our Democracy by Carol Anderson and Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle For Voting Rights in America by Ari Berman.

[Medium]: Mail-in Voting, Early Voting and Automatic Voter Registration AVR

If you want to increase voter participation, especially:

in mid-term elections (governors and mayors decided here!),
in primary elections (many races actually decided here!),
in down-ballot races (the new generation of leaders decided here!), and
during local/regional/global emergencies (!),

then support:

Mail-in Voting aka postal voting;
Early Voting aka pre-poll voting or advance polling; and
Automatic Voter Registration AVR, or Same-Day voter Registration SDR aka Election Day voter Registration EDR.

[Hard]: Gerrymandering

If you:

don't like having your General election results predetermined in the Primary,
don't like the candidate choices you have been given,
want candidates to reach out to you,

then support an end to gerrymandering "Geometry versus Gerrymandering." Scientific American. November 2018. (Michigan Radio story) (Michigan organization Voters Not Politicians).

For full effect, view the videos above or to right by selecting a video image, then icons ⛶ fullscreen, ㏄ captions , ▶︎ Play, and ⏯︎ ☒ Skip Ads.

[Harder]: Instant-runoff / preferential / ranked-choice voting RCV

If you:

think it's a waste of time and money to vote in a Primary then a General election, and especially a waste to hold Runoff elections,
don't like the candidate choices you have been given (perhaps making you a 👃🤏 clothespin voter ),
don't like having to withhold your vote to send the message none-of-the-above,
want to choose from more than just the two frontrunners,
want candidates to reach out to you even in party-safe gerrymandered districts or non-battleground states,
are tired of negative campaigning,
are afraid of the spoiler effect in 2016 with Jill Stein and (each, individually!) the Libertarian, Green and Constitution Parties, and in 2000 of Ralph Nader and (each, individually!) the Green, Reform, Libertarian, Natural Law, Workers World, Constitution, Socialist and Socialist Workers Parties, [1]
don't want your favorite candidate to suspend their campaign early because of fears they may become the spoiler, or
don't want to waste your vote,

then support instant-runoff / preferential / ranked-choice voting RCV (at Yang2020.com) as used in Maine and 11 US cities,
replacing the winner-takes-all / single-winner plurality / first-past-the-post electoral system currently existing in most of our States, with all of its flaws described above.

[Hardest]: Align political boundaries with watersheds

If you:

want to make it easier for your communities to protect your water and soil,

then work to align political boundaries with watershed boundaries.

For example, using 🇺🇸 USA EPA map on ArcGIS > icon with four squares Select a Basemap > map USGS National Map, I would live in the neighborhood of Little Carl Creek, county/parish/borough/municipio of Lower Grand, and state or nation of Lawrencia.

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