UU the Vote Postcard and Phonebanking Group

UUCA UU the Vote Action Opportunities

From UUA UU the Vote: 

“One of the fundamental principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is the use of the democratic process. As an expression of our faith, many Unitarian Universalist congregations engage in voter registration, election reform, protecting voting rights and democracy, and Get-Out-the-Vote drives.”

We’ve sent out over 6,300 postcards to potential voters in Georgia and Texas urging people to register and to plan to vote.   

 We are sponsoring texting and phonebanking to potential voters, encouraging registration and voting. We will provide training  and instructions.

UU the Vote is a non-partisan faith initiative to engage our neighbors, educate our communities, and mobilize voters. Our current campaign is with Reclaim Our Vote, a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to fighting voter suppression, especially in communities of color.

For additional action opportunities, including some with the national UU the Vote organization, check out our Action Calendar here:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XsxIqd-qeukkxmtmvgeqfyYSQ_jBw8S7e7nUSVduSOI/edit#slide=id.p

If you have questions about UUCA UU the Vote, contact Kristy Mutchler at kristymutchler15@gmail.com. 

Upcoming Action Needed! 

It’s crunch time! UULM-MD is providing texting and phone banking opportunities to help increase turnout in Maryland and Pennsylvania.  If you have questions about the UULM-MD texting or phone banks, contact us at info@uulmmd.org 

In Maryland:

Help Make Sure that all Mail-in Ballots get Counted!

“Ballots postmarked by November 3 will be accepted and counted if received by November 13, but we want to make sure they arrive despite USPS delays. Therefore, we want to encourage everyone who has not mailed their ballot to use a designated dropbox, Click Here for a list of Maryland Drop Box Locations by county.

Over 750,000 people have requested mail-in ballots but the Board of Elections has not indicated that they received them. Over 350,000 of these belong to minorities. Sign up to contact these folks by text or phone to encourage them to get them in: https://forms.gle/YirLqzFqBPBAAK9w5

Help increase turnout in Maryland!

To text or phone bank in Maryland,  sign up through our UULM-MD Outreach Form:

https://forms.gle/kJxGBh1d7D68GL8MA

 We use a virtual system for all calls and text messages, so no one uses their own phone number.  You will be able to make your contacts as your schedule permits (between 9 AM and 9 PM) and request additional lists of people to contact as you finish each list.

In Pennsylvania:

Help Turn Out Voters in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Immigration & Citizenship Coalition (PICC):

Virtual phone and text banking through November 3rd to give new citizens important information about voting on Election Day.

Phone and Text banking will be done virtually from the comfort of your home. No previous phone banking experience is necessary! We will train all volunteers before the first phone or text bank.

Materials Needed: laptop, tablet, or computer and internet access.  Sign up today!

 One PA:

Phone banks target potential voters in underserved communities all around the state, with a focus on the Philadelphia area.

Each phone bank begins with training, and then volunteers go off to make calls.

Sign up for one or multiple phone banks at:  https://www.mobilize.us/onepa/event/320777/

Questions?  Contact info@uulmmd.org

      Plan Your Vote! 

      Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, some changes have been made to voting options on November 3, 2020. You will need to decide whether you will vote in person or by mail-in-ballot. You will need to check on the voting center convenient for you; it may not be your normal polling place. The information below is copied from the Maryland Board of Elections website. 

      Who can vote?

      Any registered voter can vote. If you are not registered to vote, learn about how to register.

      When can I vote?

      For the 2020 Presidential General Election:

      • You can either vote in person during early voting or on election day or by mail-in ballot.
      • Early voting starts on Monday, October 26, 2020, and goes through Monday, November 2, 2020. Each early voting center will be open continuously from 7 am to 8 pm each day. Anyone in line at 8 pm will be allowed to vote.
      • On election day, you can vote at any election day vote center (PDF) (Excel) in the county in which you live. On election day, vote centers are open continuously from 7 am until 8 pm on. Anyone in line at 8 pm will be allowed to vote.

      If you are unable to vote during early voting or on election day, you may vote by absentee ballot. Find out more information about mail-in voting.

      Important Note: A recent change in the law requires the State Board of Elections and each local board of elections to refer to absentee ballots as “mail-in ballots” and absentee voting as “mail-in voting.” Please note that this change in terminology does NOT change the process of mail-in voting.

      Where should I vote?

      For the 2020 Presidential General Election:

      How will I cast my vote?

      For the 2020 Presidential General Election:

      • During early voting or on election day, you will hand mark a paper ballot. Use the pen provided to fill in the oval next to your choices. You can also mark your ballot electronically. Review your ballot choices, place your voted ballot into the privacy sleeve and take it to the scanner. An election worker will direct you to insert your ballot into the scanning unit to cast your vote. Your ballot will be scanned and dropped into a secure ballot box.
      • There will be instructions available at the early voting centers and election day vote center (PDF) (Excel) to familiarize you with the ballot. You may ask an election judge to explain how to vote, but you must cast your vote alone, unless you are unable to do so because you have a disability or are unable to read or write the English language.
      • For mail-in voting and provisional voting, you will be issued a paper ballot. Use a black ink pen to fill in the oval next to your choices. Provisional ballots are returned to the local election office in secure bags on election night. Mail-in and provisional ballots will be scanned at the local election office.

      I have a disability. Will I be able to vote?

      Yes. All early voting centers in Maryland are accessible to voters with disabilities.

      See Access by Voters with Disabilities for more information.

      Are election materials available in languages other than English?

      Federal law requires Montgomery County to provide election materials in Spanish. Non-English materials may be provided in other jurisdictions on a voluntary basis. Contact your local board of elections to determine what is available in your jurisdiction.