Voter Toolkit
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BE INFORMED<br />
STAY ENGAGED<br />
USE YOUR VOICE<br />
2nd Edition, 2017
BE INFORMED - KNOW YOUR REPRESENTATIVES!<br />
Why? They work for you. They need to know how YOU want them to vote<br />
on your behalf on issues that affect you, your family, and our community.<br />
Call your representative regardless of party.<br />
Factoid: Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts voted in favor of Ben Carson as<br />
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Because she didn’t hear<br />
differently from her constituents, she went along with the majority.<br />
What to do: Fill-in the grid below so you’re ready to call your representatives.<br />
Use this link to identify your elected representatives!<br />
http://action.humanesociety.org/site/PageServer?<br />
pagename=electedOfficials<br />
Give your name, zip code and articulate your position (for or against)<br />
legislation in one sentence.<br />
Time commitment: Less than 10 minutes to call your representatives.<br />
UNITED STATES CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE (Washington DC)<br />
US STATE SENATORS<br />
PHONE NUMBER<br />
Patty Murray (206) 553-5545<br />
Maria Cantwell (206) 220-6400<br />
UNITED STATE HOUSE OF REPRE-<br />
SENTATIVE (BASED ON YOUR ZIP<br />
CODE)<br />
PHONE NUMBER<br />
LEGISLATURE DISTRICT # ___ (OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON STATE)<br />
STATE SENATOR<br />
PHONE NUMBER<br />
1.<br />
STATE REPRESENTATIVES<br />
PHONE NUMBER<br />
1.<br />
2.
STAY ENGAGED - LEARN THE ISSUES TO ENGAGE WITH<br />
YOUR REPRESENTATIVES<br />
How? Join, Join, Join! Sign up and join local and national groups, emails, and<br />
newsletters for updates on issues you care about. For a list of advocacy<br />
groups check out DUO’s Connection Advocacy Appendix (“CAAP”) at end of<br />
this document and http://www.smallwhitefilter.com/alpha.html.<br />
What to do: Deicide if you agree with the group’s advocacy recommendations,<br />
call your representative and let them know how you want them to<br />
represent you on the issue.<br />
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS<br />
Children’s Alliance<br />
Washington State Commission on<br />
African American Affairs<br />
NATIONAL<br />
ORGANIZATIONS<br />
Children’s Defense Fund<br />
Southern Poverty Law<br />
WEBSITES<br />
www.childrensalliance.org<br />
www.caa.wa.gov<br />
WEBSITES<br />
www.childrensdefense.org<br />
www.splcenter.org
USE YOUR VOICE – ADVOCATE/RUN FOR OFFICE!<br />
Why: We the people need skilled candidates of color for the 2018<br />
elections to rise and help shape public opinion. Attend a leadership<br />
training to strengthen your advocacy efforts and consider running for<br />
Precinct Chair*, the School Board*, City Council*, Hospital boards<br />
or one of the 200+ Governor’s Board and Commissions**.<br />
What to do? Contact an agency such as Children’s Alliance to sign up<br />
for a Leadership Training. Visit websites or call office of interest<br />
(School District, City or State Commission Office) for more information.<br />
Mobilize for a timely response. Legislation can take years, days, and<br />
sometimes hours to pass. Develop YOUR OWN PERSONAL RAPID<br />
RESPONSE TEAM, with at least 5 friends and family members, for<br />
immediate (same day) response.<br />
How? Set up a phone tree or GROUP ME text message group to take<br />
immediate action (make a phone call, send an e-mail) regarding hot<br />
legislative issues. Sign everybody up so that when we need to leap<br />
into action (like we did at the airports the hour after Trump signed<br />
his Muslim Ban) you can email and text each other and make an instant<br />
plan.<br />
*There are 39 cities in King County (i.e. Kent, Renton, Issaquah,<br />
Bellevue, Federal Way, Bothell, Sammamish…). 39 opportunities<br />
for Alpha Kappa Alpha to impact local school boards, commissions,<br />
precincts and more.<br />
** Washington State Governor’s Boards and Commissions -<br />
http://www.governor.wa.gov/boards-commissions
CONNECTION ADVOCACY APPENDIX<br />
(“CAAP”)<br />
Best practices and Resources<br />
BE INFORMED!<br />
Who are your national and local elected representatives? Is their<br />
stance on issues consistent with their campaign platform? Is it consistent<br />
with what matters most to you? Here’s how you can find out.<br />
TurboVote https://turbovote.org/<br />
We make sure you always know when elections are happening, and<br />
have the information you need to vote with confidence. Sign up to<br />
receive election reminders and get registered to vote.<br />
Vote Spotter (Download the App)<br />
Spot votes, vote Smart. Your elected officials vote on hundreds of<br />
bills every year. Keeping track of important votes can feel like a fulltime<br />
job. That’s where VoteSpotter comes in. VoteSpotter is a simple<br />
app that alerts you to key votes, while making it easy to give your<br />
legislator feedback on how they voted. Make yourself heard. With<br />
one click, you’ll be able to vote on your elected officials’ vote, giving<br />
them a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down. Whether you agree or disagree<br />
with your elected officials, you can then easily share your opinion<br />
with them via email or phone right from the app.<br />
How to Contact Your Elected Officials<br />
https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials<br />
What’s matters are being discussed<br />
WA State Legislative Calendar:<br />
https://app.leg.wa.gov/far/Senate/<br />
Calendar<br />
https://app.leg.wa.gov/far/House/<br />
Calendar
STAY ENGAGED!<br />
Leverage local and national organizations,<br />
credible information, and effective<br />
communication to increase your influence.<br />
Indivisible<br />
Indivisible Guide https://www.indivisibleguide.com/<br />
Join a group in your community to take action and hold Congress accountable<br />
Progressive <strong>Voter</strong>s Guide<br />
https://www.progressivevotersguide.com/<br />
The Progressive <strong>Voter</strong>s Guide is an annual project of Fuse Washington. Since<br />
2008, we've combined the endorsements of Washington's leading progressive<br />
organizations with research about candidates and ballot measures to give you<br />
the information you've been searching for to be an informed voter. More than<br />
1,300,000 people have used the Progressive <strong>Voter</strong>s Guide, and thousands<br />
come back each election for more of our thorough candidate research and<br />
trusted recommendations.<br />
ProPublica<br />
https://www.propublica.org/<br />
ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative<br />
journalism in the public interest. Their stated purpose focuses exclusively on<br />
truly important stories, stories with “moral force.” They do this by “producing<br />
journalism that shines a light on exploitation of the weak by the strong and on<br />
the failures of those with power to vindicate the trust placed in them”.<br />
Breitbart News<br />
http://www.breitbart.com/<br />
Breitbart News Network (mainly known as Breitbart) is a politically conservative<br />
American news and opinion website founded in 2007 by conservative<br />
commentator and entrepreneur Andrew Breitbart (1969–2012).<br />
The website is loathed by many liberals, moderates and establishment Republicans<br />
who say it stokes a partisan atmosphere and misleads readers to escalate<br />
what they see as nonissues. But it has been beloved by many on the right<br />
as an answer to mainstream media organizations, including The NY Times,<br />
that are viewed as liberal in outlook.<br />
Conservative News<br />
https://townhall.com/<br />
Source for conservative news and political commentary and analysis.
Fact Checking Resources<br />
Be careful to avoid spreading information that has not been confirmed as<br />
being true. There are many fake organizations/individuals that spread untrue<br />
information as fact. Check for name of the source and date the content was<br />
written.<br />
http://www.factcheck.org/<br />
We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims<br />
to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics.<br />
FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the<br />
University of Pennsylvania.<br />
http://www.Politifact.com<br />
PolitiFact is a fact-checking website that rates the accuracy of claims by<br />
elected officials and others who speak up in American politics. PolitiFact is<br />
run by editors and reporters from the Tampa Bay Times, an independent<br />
newspaper in Florida<br />
Tips for Communications<br />
Elected officials want to be informed and responsive to their constituent's<br />
needs. A well-constructed call, email or letter can provide valuable information<br />
and feedback that helps the official choose an informed position.<br />
NOTE: In today’s environment with such ease of obtaining information,<br />
officials tend to prefer electronic or phone communications.<br />
1. Use the correct form of address (and/or mailing address) – i.e. The<br />
Honorable, Dear Senator, Dear Representative.<br />
2. Avoid form letters; personal letters have more impact.<br />
3. Be concise. Brief messages are more effective and more likely to be read.<br />
Address only one issue in each correspondence.<br />
4. Be specific. If you are asking for support of or opposition to a specific bill,<br />
include its number and name, title or subject (House bill: H.R.____, Senate<br />
bill: S.____). Communicate how the legislation impacts you, your colleagues,<br />
your students, etc., if possible.<br />
5. Include return address and contact information. Increase impact by sending<br />
copies to your senators, members of Congress, and locally elected<br />
leaders.<br />
6. Ask for a reply. Follow up within a week.<br />
7. Timing is essential. Know how the legislative process works. Send your<br />
correspondence when the bill first reaches committee to have greatest<br />
impact. Follow up with a contact before the bill is voted on.
USE YOUR VOICE!<br />
Go further! Step into “service” yourself and/or support<br />
someone else who might be able and willing.<br />
Washington State Secretary of State<br />
In Washington, we enjoy a unique tradition of promoting citizen involvement<br />
in our political system. Under the populist provisions of our state constitution,<br />
every voter has the right to run for office and to have his or her<br />
name appear on the ballot without approval from a political party.<br />
• https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/<br />
• This site has helpful information for state voters and potential candidates<br />
(i.e. election calendar, deadlines, custom voter guides, etc.)<br />
School Board FAQs<br />
Is education a concern or passion for you? Find out what school boards do,<br />
how to communicate with them, how to run for a position!<br />
https://www.nsba.org/about-us/frequently-asked-questions<br />
Thinking About Running for City Council?<br />
• Determine when city council elections are held in your city. Study the<br />
issues in your city; attend open-forum city council meetings. Join a sub<br />
-committee on your city council, such as neighborhood associations or<br />
small business association. Work on getting your voice heard at council<br />
meetings. Network with city government officials to get your views<br />
and opinions heard.<br />
• Research who is on the current city council and what their platform<br />
issues are. Find out how popular members keep popularity and keep<br />
getting elected.<br />
• Assemble a small campaign team: i.e. campaign manager and financial<br />
manager. Get information on the stipulations for campaigning and running<br />
process.<br />
• Section off parts of your city that contain a large population of the voters.<br />
Visit door to door to give out information pamphlets on the issues<br />
you plan to address.
How to Make a Public Comment at a City Council Meeting<br />
1. Research topic of interest - Read local news to keep current. Review<br />
minutes from recent meetings to find out what actions have recently<br />
been taken relating to your concerns.<br />
2. Find out when your next city council meeting is. Check your city’s<br />
website if they have one.<br />
3. Read the agenda for the meeting you plan to attend. Councils generally<br />
cannot act on anything unless it is on the agenda.<br />
4. Write your comments. Be aware of any time limits (typically 2-3<br />
minutes) and practice aloud a few times.<br />
5. Arrive early or go to your city hall and fill out a speaker card, if necessary.<br />
6. Attend the meeting. Dress appropriately – does not need to be overly<br />
formal. Consult AKA Protocol for guidance on wearing paraphernalia.<br />
7. Go to podium confidently when called. Thank the person who called you<br />
forward, putting their title (mayor, council member) before their last<br />
name. Do your best to make eye contact and sound calm.<br />
8. Introduce yourself, state that you live in the city, and state any relevant<br />
affiliations (i.e. groups, etc.). It is appropriate to explain that you’re<br />
speaking on behalf of yourself – not AKA.<br />
9. State your position clearly. Briefly explain your reasoning and describe<br />
evidence.<br />
10. Thank the city council when done with your comments. It is ok to finish<br />
your sentence if timer goes off, but not beyond that. It is best to submit<br />
written supporting materials in advance, especially if vote will be taking<br />
place on the same day. If you have any supporting materials, a city<br />
clerk or staff member may be able to collect printed material for the<br />
record.
Action<br />
BE INFORMED<br />
STAY ENGAGED
Plans<br />
USE YOUR VOICE
BE INFORMED<br />
Know your representatives<br />
STAY ENGAGED<br />
Learn the issues to engage with your representatives<br />
USE YOUR VOICE<br />
Advocate/Run for office<br />
PRESENTED BY<br />
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.<br />
Delta Upsilon Omega, Seattle, WA<br />
Connection Committee