Eric Piehl comments on ☑ voting informed, in every election.

Democracy

Around the year 1150 ^[1] to 1550 ^[2] C.E., or thereabouts ^[3] , the Haudenosaunee Peoples decided to end ongoing fighting between their five constituent nations.

To stop the fighting, they agreed to:

• bury their 🏹︎🪓🗡 weapons, or a single symbolic weapon,
• under the Tree of Peace — a large tree in the area — an ■ eastern white pine  Pinus strobus.

To preserve the peace, they created the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy :

• a dem­o­crat­ic system of gov­ern­ment,

• written constitution,
• amendable,

• separate branches of gov­ern­ment, between which is a
• balance of power.

A system of government that worked so well that:

• 237 ^[2] to 637 ^[1] years later, and
• 238 years ago,

Later amended (as of this writing) 27 times.  And now needing a number of election reforms, some of which I list in the later entries in Step 7 ↓ below.

👐︎ On the other hand …

Civil War:
  Development in reverse.
    — World Bank.

To get poor,
  start a civil war.

If you want wealth to never cease,
  feed the peace.
    —  ▷  "U.S. Polling Is Pitiful, and It's a Danger to Democracy." William Spaniel.

Why vote?

About      👥︎ : 👤︎  2 people in 3, alive in the world today, live in an autocracy. ^[5]

Meaning  👤︎ : 👥︎  1 person in 3 lives in a democracy. ^[5]

Was over 👤︎ : 👤︎  1 person in 2 for a while, but times have been tough in the decade after 2016. ^[5]

Let us build a 🌐︎ world as if  👪︎👥︎  people really matter.

If you are fortunate enough to live in a full or electoral democracy, please continue …

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.  Vote to make a change, or to keep things the same.  When we vote, we do make a difference.  Not perfect, but better.

Or vote to give yourself a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Or use the reasons of nature-advocate  ▷  Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE.

Watch the videos ↖ above or to left.  For full effect, select the video image or link, then icons YouTube (if present), ⏯︎ ⊠ Skip Ads (if present), ㏄ captions (if you wish), ⛶ full­screen, and ▶︎ Play.   More  ▷  videos from Nature Rx!

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

People of color are still fighting for their voting rights.

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

If you are Gen-Y or Gen-Z, or a 🕶 cool Boomer who understands urban symbology, please see Eminem explicit video Mosh ↗ above or to right, with support by a  ▷  lyrics version.   Written 21 years ago, it still speaks to us today.

For full effect, select the video image or link button, then icons YouTube (if present), ⏯︎ ⊠ Skip Ads (if present), ㏄ captions (if you wish), ⛶ full­screen, and ▶︎ Play.

Fans of Hamilton:  An American Musical :

Rise up.    — John Laurens and ensemble

I wanna be in the room where it happens.    — Aaron Burr

I am not throwing away my shot!    — Alexander Hamilton

Must be nice to have Washington [DC, and your state and local gov­ern­ments?] on your side.    — Aaron Burr

Don't wait for it like Aaron Burr.

History has its eyes on you.    — George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and ensemble

This webpage 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 choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

    —  ▷  🔊︎ Song Freewill, by band Rush, at 69 sec.
1980-01-14.   For full effect, select the video link button, then icons YouTube (if present), ⏯︎ ⊠ Skip Ads (if present), ㏄ captions (if you wish), ⛶ full­screen, and ▶︎ Play.

Let's get started!

References

^[5]  "How Many People Live in a Political Democracy Today?" accessed 2023-10-13.

Step 2:  How to vote

You Can Vote Safely In-Person Despite Coronavirus.  Here's How.  Consumer Reports.  October 10, 2020.

📅︎ A month before Election Day (or two or three) (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.
	Accessible voting methods
🇺🇸 USA, while travelling or temporarily living 🌐︎ abroad			See Can I Vote .org > scroll down > icon Overseas Voters.
🇺🇸 USA 50 states + DC	When is the next election?		• See Can I Vote .org > scroll down > icon Election Official Directory > select your state and region.  • Or   Election Protection coalition > select your state or district > scroll down a bit.  • Or   VOTE411 > fill out section Personalized Voting Information > button Submit.  • Or   Vote.org.
	Where do I vote?		• See Can I Vote .org > scroll down > icon Election Official Directory > select your state and region.  • Or   VOTE411 > fill out section Personalized Voting Information > button Submit.
	How do I vote 📅︎ early in-person , or ✉ by mail (mail-in) , or absen­tee?		• See Can I Vote .org > scroll down > icon Absentee & Early In-Person Voting > dropdown Select Your State.  • Or   VOTE411 > fill out section Personalized Voting Information > button Submit > link Absentee Ballot.  • Or   Election Protection coalition > select your state or district > expand section Voting Early & by Absentee Ballot.  • Or   Vote.org > scroll down > your jurisdiction > scroll down.
	📄︎ 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 (A) print what is on your ballot, (B) 📝︎ mark it up, and (C) bring with you into the voting booth.  More than legal — it is your right!
California			In the 2020 general election, all registered voters were mailed a vote-by-mail ballot.   An in-person option is also available.  (Previously, 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.
	What candidates are running, and what issues are at stake?		• Illinois State Board of Elections > navigate Information For Voters.  • Or go to your local 🏛 city hall or township hall, or DMV office.
	Where do I vote?
	How do I vote 📅︎ early in-person , or ✉ by mail (mail-in) , or absen­tee?
	📄︎ Print a sample ballot
Michigan	When is the next election?		Michigan Voter Information Center > link 👤︎ Your voter information.
	Where do I vote?
	What candidates are running, and what issues are at stake?		• If at above webpage > column Ballot preview > button View.  • Or Michigan Voter Information Center > link 👤︎ What's on the ballot? > etc. (if you don't know your precinct, pick one — in most elections, it doesn't matter).
	How do I vote 📅︎ early in-person , 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 MI Vote, MI Way:  Your voting options.  • See VOTE411 > navigation link Early Voting or Absentee Ballot Process.  • Or   Michigan Voter Information Center > link Early voting or 🏢︎ How do I vote early?   Seen on 👕︎ t-shirts in Ann Arbor:   Hail to the Early Voters!   • Or   Michigan Voter Information Center > link ✉ Vote at home (Absentee).  If you choose a download option, you might choose version Fillable, Large Print, Spanish Español, or Bengali বাংলা.   Starting in 2020, you can track the status of your absentee ballot application here > link 👤︎ Your voter information.  [Worked for us in 2020, twice!]  • Or go to the clerk just inside the 🚪︎ front door of your local 🏛 city hall or township hall Michigan Voter Information Center > link Your clerk > section Search for your city/township clerk.
	📄︎ Print a sample ballot		• If at above webpage > column Ballot preview > button View.  • Or Michigan Voter Information Center > link 👤︎ What's on the ballot?  • Or (state-wide issues only) easy one-page Michigan 2018 sample ballot.  (page 40) Then 📄︎ print this — yes, it is legal to (A) print what is on your ballot, (B) 📝︎ mark it up, and (C) bring with you into the voting booth.  More than legal — it is your right!
	What is the status of my absentee ballot application? Did they receive my vote?		NEW for 2020:  • If at above webpage, should be listed there.  • Or Michigan Voter Information Center > link 👤︎ Your voter information.  [Worked for us in 2020, twice!]

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

Step 4:  ☑ Vote!

☑ Vote when, where and how you found out back in Step 2, using the information you found out back in Step 3.

If your jurisdiction has 👥︎📫︎☑ universal mail-in voting or you wish to use 📫︎☑ absentee voting, prevent the most important threats to your vote not being counted:

1. Mark your ballot as you intended back in Step 3, following the instructions provided.  In my jurisdiction, this includes:
     •  using a ✎✎ blue or black pen,
     •  filling in ⬮⬮ the bubble completely.
2. If instructed to by your jurisdiction, place your ballot inside the inner security envelope / security sleeve.
   In some jurisdictions, with the ballot tab sticking out.
   Not doing this risks having a naked ballot.
   Then place this in your outer return envelope / declaration envelope …
3. ☑ Verify that you signed your name exactly as when you Registered.   ◀Most common reason ballots are rejected!
   May be the same as on your 🪪 Driver's License.
   May be consistent with your name in your ballot's address label.
   Put on today's date — not your birthday!
   Some jurisdictions require a witness signature!
   Some jurisdictions allow you to include a 📱︎☎ phone number and/or 📧︎ email address, for them to contact you if your ballot has a problem.  [Sounds like a good idea to me.]
4. Return your ballot to the polls before your jurisdiction's deadline.  ◀Second-most common reason ballots are rejected!
   In my jurisdiction, you can do this by:
     •  ☑👤︎👥︎ In-person at the same clerk desk.
     •  ☑✉📮︎ In a secure dropbox, inside or outside your 🏛 clerk's office.  And in Washington State, outside each library!
     •  ☑✉📫︎ By mail.  If needed, apply postage to outer return envelope / declaration envelope.  In my jurisdiction, I believe it has to be received by the election board on or before Election Day — USPS says to mail 7 days before.

If you mess up, all jurisdictions have a process where they will spoil your ballot and issue you a new ballot — see your Clerk!

Most jurisdictions also have a website where you can check on the status of your vote:

• whether and when your request was received,
• whether and when your ballot was sent to you, and
• whether and when your ballot was received!

[All three steps worked for us in 2020 September and October!]


If you are worried about the 📫︎ US mail:

• read Election Mail by USPS,
  
• sign up for USPS Informed Delivery, and
• consider eliminating a mail step or two …

In 2020-August, we filled out our absentee ballot applications at home, and I turned them in at our 🏛 Township Hall.  (Your Clerk might be in your City Hall.)  Our Township Clerk said they would mail out our ballots as soon as they got them, in a month.  Then we can return our ballots (up to 45 days before the election) either:

• ☑👤︎👥︎ in-person at the same clerk desk,
• ☑✉📮︎ in a secure dropbox outside, or
• ☑✉📫︎ by mail.

On my way out, I checked the 📮︎ dropbox — sturdy, steel, bolted well to the sidewalk.  Any of these options seem fine.  [And in October, they added another secure dropbox in the lobby, too!]

Since our 🏛 Township Hall is convenient to our home, and we can easily travel there during business hours, we dropped off our ballots at the clerk's office.  And used the opportunity for a walk downtown in the sun.  Lovely!


"The hidden science of mail-in voting."  PBS Nova Now.  Thursday, August 27, 2020. or its 🔊︎ audio

If ☑👤︎👥︎ voting in-person, 📅︎ early or on Election 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 think you might run into ☑🛂︎ trouble while voting, please 📄︎ print anything you might need from the 🛂︎ trouble section ↓ below.
• If you have 🪪 gov­ern­ment-issued photo id, bring it — that is simpler.
  If you do not 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 probably is 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 বাংলা, Chinese 中文, English, Hindi, Korean 한국어, Tagalog, Urdu ودرأ, and Vietnamese Tiếng Việt,  📱︎☎ 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, Spanish en Español, in Arabic  بالعربية ), Vote.org Election Protection, and Georgetown Law's fact sheet, and state[?] fact sheets, on voter-intimidation laws. 

If you see something, say something!

If you expect 🛂︎ police contact, what to do with your electronics.  (page 25)

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 #BLM,
• 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,

6.1  Talk to your public servants

On the local level, you can attend your meetings of your local City Council, Planning Commission and such.  At your first meeting, you will learn that the agenda is often on a chair or rack by the door, or you can get it ahead-of-time online.  After a few meetings, 🗣 speak up during Call to the Public, even if only to say, "name, address, I agree with the other person who just spoke in favor of that."

Eventually, you will recognize your local officials, and be surprised how often you run into them at the local 🏞 park or hardware store.  So have your elevator pitch ready on your favorite subjects, like "I think we need to add sparkle lights at this particular intersection — cars are not stopping for pedestrians!"

On a larger level, the contact info for some elected officials are at 🇺🇸 USA everywhere   Michigan.

Step 7:  For the future, electoral reform

7.1  [Immediate]  👥︎⚖︎ Social Justice

If you:

• want a strong democracy,
• want 👥︎⚖︎ social justice, and/or
• think Black Lives Matter #BLM.

• get your 👪︎ family, 👥︎ friends and neighbors registered to vote (can refer them to this page's Step 1 Register to vote );
• inform your 👪︎ family, 👥︎ friends and neighbors how to vote (can refer them to this page's Step 2 How to vote );  and
• eliminate barriers to voting (see sections ↓ below).

7.3  [Straightforward]  Educate our young people, and adults!

Use the ideas of  ▷  PBS A Citizen's Guide to Preserving Democracy" > ☸︎ PBS Passport (> optional button Transcript +), accessed 2024-01-10.  For full effect, select the video image or link, then sublinks, then icons ⤢ full­screen, ㏄ Closed Captions=On,  and ▶︎ Play.

Some ideas that jumped out at me include:

1. Push back against violence.
   Push for Civility.
2. Get involved, and informed.
3. Push for the common good.
     Including Participatory Budgeting.
4. Support public service, and those in public service.
5. Restore Civics or Government to our school curriculum.
   And add Media Literacy and Logic.

7.5  [Medium]  Reform Selection of Judges

If you want to increase voter participation, especially: "The O'Connor Judicial Selection Plan."

7.7  [Medium]  Nonpartisan blanket primary elections (jungle primaries)

If you:

• are an Independent who wants to vote in the primary election for candidates of multiple parties,
• want the winners of a primary election to reflect the wishes of all voters, and not just voters of a single party,
• want voters whose preferred candidates are not within the major parties to have the opportunity to vote their preference in the first round without fear of spoiling their vote,

• nonpartisan blanket primary elections aka jungle primaries.

Some fine points:

• In a blanket primary, all candidates appear on the same ballot.  Voters choose one candidate per office, regardless of the candidate's partisan affiliation.  The top vote-getter from each party advance to face each other in the general election.
• In a top-two primary, all candidates appear on the same ballot.  The top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliations and the amount of support received by either, advance to face each other in the general election.  Thus, in a top-two primary, it is possible for two candidates affiliated with the same party to face each other in the general election.

Jungle primary elections (specifically, a top-four primary) is Solution 1 in the Gehl-Porter election-reform trifecta, as listed in radio podcast Freakonomics episode 356 at 42m35s 🔊︎ audio

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

If:

• You think it's a waste of time and money to vote in a primary, and vote again in a later general election, and especially possible runoff elections.
• You don't like the candidate choices you have been given (perhaps making you a 👃︎🤏 clothespin voter ).
• You don't like having to withhold your vote to send the message none-of-the-above.
• You want to choose from more than just the two frontrunners.
• You want candidates to reach out to you even in 🐍︎ party-safe gerrymandered districts or non-battleground states.
• You are tired of negative campaigning.
• You are afraid of the spoiler effect, where third-party candidates or parties inadvertently change which other candidate wins an election.  For example, in:
    ◦  2016 with Jill Stein and (each, individually!) the Libertarian, Green, and Constitution Parties, and
    ◦  2000 with Ralph Nader and (each, individually!) the Green, Reform, Libertarian, Natural Law, Workers World, Constitution, Socialist, and Socialist Workers Parties. ^[6]
  (Videographer Veritasium points out spoiler issues in  ▷  Why Democracy is Mathematically Impossible, starting at 2m10s.)
• You don't want your favorite candidate to suspend their campaign early because of fears they may become the spoiler.  -OR-
• You don't want to waste your vote.

Videographer Veritasium points out many advantages to instant-runoff / preferential voting / ranked-choice voting RCV, in  ▷  Why Democracy is Mathematically Impossible.   But he also points out a few problems, starting at 6m50s.  Maybe we should tweak ranked choice to rated voting systems, such as approval voting (discussed at 19m40s)?

7.11  [Far Futures]

Watch the Isaak Arthur video Government Types of the Future, ↖ above or to left.  For full effect, select the video image, then icons YouTube (if present), ⏯︎ ⊠ Skip Ads (if present), ㏄ captions (if you wish), ⛶ full­screen, and ▶︎ Play.