This little PSA, coming in at exactly 60 seconds, reminds us of why each of our votes is needed.
Brian wants you to know that it’s safe to vote in his Florida precinct.
In Clay, New York—a suburb of Syracuse—so many people have early voted, they were already out of the beloved “I Voted” stickers at 10:30am on Saturday. Here’s hoping they get re-stocked soon.
We really do, as a country, love those stickers.
Our love of our “I Voted” stickers really is a demonstration of how cool voting is.
I voted early on Tuesday and tweeted about it. Yet I didn’t peel the backing off my sticker. I’m “saving” it for Tuesday.
Look’s like Maria’s dad isn’t ready to wear his sticker, either. I wonder if we have the same plan.
Speaking of dads who vote … this woman’s conservative dad made her proud in 2020.
Okay, that was a tearjerker. Let’s cleanse our palate with some patriotic woozles.
This pup doesn’t want your sticker: They just want you to vote.
Take a tip from this Virginia voter and cover up your candidates of choice with a jacket before you enter the line.
This voter didn’t plan to vote on Saturday, but was pleasantly surprised by what he found.
xI got locked out of my apartment and needed to kill time, so I figured I’d go wait in a line and #VoteEarly.No line! Incredibly helpful poll workers.Still locked out though…. pic.twitter.com/oEC8qQq5sP— Luis Ferré-Sadurní (@luisferre) October 31, 2020
Other folks were prepared for a long wait and sharing their diversions.
Voters in line on Friday were READY.
This beautiful couple is old enough to remember when Mrs. Neely was barred from voting.
xMeet the Neely’s: They are a West Alabama couple ages 101 and 102. They are at the Tuscaloosa County absentee election office this morning making sure their vote is counted and singing hymns while they wait. ❤️ I’ll have the story tonight on @abc3340 pic.twitter.com/BpJMMcU5qM— Annie Mapp (@AnnieMapp_) October 27, 2020
Some people used their time in line to work through some things.
We now interrupt this Twitter roundup to recycle a beautiful GOTV message from the one and only, late, great, so-badly-missed John Lewis.
x“I gave a little blood on that bridge in Selma. I almost died. Some of my friends and colleagues were murdered. I’m not asking any of you to give any blood. I’m just asking you to go and vote like you’ve never voted before.”—Rep. John Lewis, 2 years agopic.twitter.com/EzKlYxmsVZ— Robert Reich (@RBReich) October 31, 2020
Obligatory line video, at hyperspeed.
Here’s one in real-time. It gets painful to watch after awhile, especially when you know that it didn’t have to be this way in Ohio, and in other states. Enthusiasm is part of the equation, but so are pointed efforts to suppress the vote.
It wasn’t just in Ohio, of course. Check out this footage from Alaska on Saturday.
Wait times were obscene in South Carolina as well.
xThe polls closed at 1 PM here in Moncks Corner and at 1:30, there are still hundreds of people in line.This is unacceptable. I’ve talked to voters who got here at 8:30 and are still waiting. I warned my colleagues, but the General Assembly failed to prepare for this election. pic.twitter.com/3GwpKMz3H7— SC Representative JA Moore (@jamooreforsc15) October 31, 2020
This voter had never experienced a line like this year’s before, and was woefully unprepared for the wait. Brrr!
xFirst time ever I’ll still be waiting in line to #vote once the polls close for the day. Still a longer line on the other side of the building on North Greece. Maybe I shouldn’t have worn shorts and flip flops. 😂🤦♂️#Rochester pic.twitter.com/8rxqwqtqMg— Keith Wozniak (@keithwozniak) October 31, 2020
Some people (ahem, those people) responded to long waits in the worst possible way.
People were determined to wait it out, though.
Regardless of the wait, folks were so happy once they did what they came to do.
This might be my favorite post-voting celebration yet.
The encouraging nature of these voting reports can not be showcased enough.
For those not satisfied by a sticker, there are some pretty great perks to voting in one of the many stadiums and arenas around the country that are serving as polling places.
But what about people voting on Election Day? Are they ready? In Lancaster County, all signs point to “yes.”
But it’s important to know how complex those plans are for too many. Reminder: There’s only one party determined to make it harder to vote.
xVoter Suppression Example: Does the average American know that in order to stand hours in line, millions of low income ppl have to pay for babysitters, ask for time off of work, etc. Long lines mean $$ spent by people who do not have it, in order to vote for people who have it! pic.twitter.com/hQE2qGapJo— Camela & Bradley (@BradleyCamela) October 31, 2020
If I had to guess, this voter was in Cleveland, where CNN reported lines as long as four hours.
Jerry, in Los Angeles, made a plan so solid, they didn’t even have to wait in line.
xToday’s “First in Line” award goes to Jerry!“I wanted to get my vote in.” – Jerry WilliamsIt’s like poetry to our ears, Jerry! pic.twitter.com/mHk4LXVZLC— Hollywood Pantages (@Pantages) October 31, 2020
In Oklahoma, that wasn’t the case.
Yet in Tulsa, the privilege of voting was impossible to deny.
From Greenwood to Greenville:
I don’t even care who this South Carolina woman is voting for, honestly. I just appreciate the fact that she must have brightened the line time of everyone waiting in that precinct.
And sometimes, that’s the greatest gift we can offer: improving the unavoidable trial that is waiting in line to vote in this country.
I will never waste an opportunity to amplify nice words about Chef José Andres and World Central Kitchen.
Sometimes the best thing you can do for someone struggling is to join them in the trenches. Cookies also help.
These folks in Virginia don’t appear to have celebrity support, but they aren’t giving up.
xAt the polls in Kempsville. The line goes all the way around the shopping center. We spoke with folks who had been there since 8AM and still hadn’t gotten in to vote. pic.twitter.com/eqOfunynAP— Elaine Luria (@ElaineLuriaVA) October 31, 2020
These folks in Michigan aren’t giving up either.
xThere is currently a 2.5 hour wait to vote in a city in Oakland County, Michigan, which is a suburb about 30 minutes from Detroit. The people in line are waiting to pick up an absentee ballot that they can either fill out in person or drop off via drop box later. pic.twitter.com/mcI8t5zr9m— Annie Grayer (@AnnieGrayerCNN) October 31, 2020
If this voter can see their ballot through, then so can you. So can we all.
xI found found out that my ballot has not been accepted. I can’t go more than 4 hours without being on a nebulizer. Being out in the cold causes me a great deal of pain. I can’t even stand for more than few minutes. I’ll be in line to vote.— ijustfuckinghate45 (@mjMJohnsonewby) October 31, 2020
Remember to check with your circle of friends and family and make sure they’ve got a plan to vote. Make sure they know their rights, too. Here’s an easy way to share that important info.
Finally, don’t be afraid to chat with your fellow voters. You never know who will surprise you.
xThe guy in front of me in line to vote said “ I think it will be a landslide for trump”. I was wearing my Vietnam hat. He said “bet you are voting for him”. I laughed and said “If a raccoon were running against that damn draft dodger, I’d vote for it.” Short conversation— American Veteran (@amvetsupport) October 31, 2020
Thank you for your service, sir.Share your favorite early voting dispatches in the comments, and if you haven’t voted yet, please: MAKE A PLAN.
And be prepared for what might come next.
If Trump attempts to stop the vote counting, we need to take to the streets. The Protect the Results coalition has been preparing for this by organizing hundreds of post-election events across the country. Click here to find, and RSVP for, the Count Every Vote rally near you.