Americans of Conscience Checklist: July 12, 2024

Eighteen states will hold primary elections in July, August, or September. Even if your state’s primary has passed, you can prepare for November’s general election by verifying that your voter information is correct and that your registration hasn’t been purged. Take these five steps! 

Take action:

• Register to vote for the first time (make sure you meet your state’s deadline).
• Update your address or re-register if you’ve recently moved.
• Confirm that your voter registration is still valid.
• Make a plan to vote by mail or in person.
• Find out who and what is on your ballot.

Text messages are a proven method of increasing voter turnout. Join the get-out-the-vote efforts of Black Voters Matter Fund volunteers by participating in Texting Tuesdays or Thursday Postcard Parties.

If you live in MA, NC, NJ, OH, PA, or Washington, DC your state/district has pending legislation that would regulate the use of computer-modified video, audio, and images intended to deceive the public (also known as deepfakes) in election communications. Use this tracker from Public Citizen to find the bill number(s) for your state.

Contact: Your state legislators (look up).

Script: Hi, I’m a constituent from [ZIP] contacting you to express concern over the use of artificial intelligence to generate fake video, images, and audio in order to mislead voters. Regulating this deceptive media is a bipartisan issue, as shown by recently passed state-level bills and the FCC’s new ban on AI robocalls. I’m asking you to pass [BILL NO. FROM TRACKER above] to regulate the misuse of AI in campaign ads.

If you live in AK, AR, CT, GA, IA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MO, MT, ND, NE, NV, OK, RI, SC, SD, TN, VA, VT, WV, or WY, contact your state legislators to ask them to introduce legislation to regulate misleading ads generated by AI.

If you live in AL, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, HI, ID, IN, MI, MN, MS, NH, NM, NY, OR, TX, UT, WA, or WI, since your state has already enacted legislation to regulate deceptive AI-generated ads, thank your state legislators for blocking deceptive media.

Five times in U.S. history (including twice since 2000), the candidate who received the most votes didn’t win the presidency. Although Congress passed much-needed legislation in 2022 to clarify the process of appointing electors and certifying their votes, the Electoral College still misrepresents voters in every state. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) would ensure that the Electoral College would abide by the results of the popular vote.

Take Action: Send an email to your state legislators using National Popular Vote’s tool, which creates a fully editable message, pre-tailored to whether your state has or has not adopted the NPVIC.

Bonus: Share information from the League of Women Voters’ One Person, One Vote toolkit on social media.

Contact: OSHA at 1-800-321-6742 or by mail at
Attn: Douglas L. Parker, Assistant Secretary of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
200 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20210

Script: Hello, I’m writing in support of the newly proposed federal heat safety rule, which establishes workers’ rights to shade, water, and rest while operating in potentially deadly temperatures. Without state and federal protections, U.S. farm workers can experience dehydration, heat exhaustion, and death in hot weather. I join with farm worker advocates urging OSHA to swiftly finalize and implement this proposed rule to protect those who feed us.

Contact: Patrick J. Lechleitner
Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
500 12th St SW
Washington, D.C. 20536

Script: Hello, I’m contacting you from [STATE] because I strongly oppose ICE’s decision to withdraw free phone access for detained individuals. This sudden policy change is cruel to the isolated people relying on the “free minutes” program to stay connected with family and community members, and obstructs aspiring Americans from contacting legal representatives and preparing for upcoming immigration cases. I join hunger strikers in urging ICE to permanently restore this lifeline to people in detention.

Contact: Governor Abbott at 512-463-2000 or by mail at
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711-2428

and

Texas National Guard at ng.tx.txarng.list.npe-access-tmd-unit-feedback@army.mil or by mail at
Office of the Adjutant General
Major General Thomas Suelzer
P.O. Box 5218
Austin, TX 78703

Script: Hello, I’m contacting you from [STATE] because I’m horrified by reports of National Guard members firing pepper balls at people seeking asylum at the Texas-Mexico border. Aspiring Americans have reported being shot directly with these toxic projectiles, including while sleeping in an encampment south of the border. I’m urging you to immediately put an end to Texas’ inhumane practice of using chemical irritants and projectiles on human beings.

Contact: Your two senators and one House representative (look up).

Script: Hello, I’m contacting you from [ZIP] because I’m concerned that the Supreme Court’s decision upholding an anti-camping law will encourage cities in our state to penalize unhoused people, resulting in the loss of property, documents, and treasured mementos. Ending homelessness requires affordable housing and support services, not punitive measures. Please add your name to this NAEH letter urging the president to enact policies that reduce initiatives to criminalize homelessness.

Alternate: Contact your members of Congress with the NAEH form (uncheck the “Yes, sign me up for email updates” box).

Following conservative backlash regarding Tractor Supply’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, the largest U.S. rural lifestyle retailer has eliminated an array of DEI and climate initiatives and will no longer participate in Human Rights Campaign’s data collection efforts.

Take Action: Sign the HRC petition urging Tractor Supply to support all its customers and employees, and protect the communities they call home (you will be automatically subscribed to HRC updates).

Thank Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto (D–NV) for introducing the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act, which will prohibit anyone from interfering with a person’s ability to access out-of-state reproductive health care.

If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use this address: 520 Hart SOB, Washington, DC 20510

Thank you to the 151 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!

Thank Ryne Sanford, Director of Housekeeping at Hilton Cleveland Downtown, for partnering with the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants to employ and train over 35 immigrants from regions across the globe.

If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use this address: 100 Lakeside Avenue East, Cleveland, OH 44114

Thank you to the 123 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!