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4 days to Midterm Elections

The AoC Checklist features clear, well-researched actions for Americans who value democracy, equality, voting, and decency. We are a big tent for all people who want a kinder, flourishing nation.

If you only have 10 minutes, take our top three suggested actions:

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In this edition of the AoC Checklist:

Contact your senators

Check the box if you made contact–whether for one issue or all–so we can count your action. Contacting your senators’ staffers with multiple concerns is more efficient for both of you. They don’t mind, but be sure to contact both progressives and conservatives. They need to hear from you.

Look up your senators here.

Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!

Your script: Hi, I’m from [ZIP] calling/writing about several issues. I’d like Sen. [NAME] to:

Contact your House representative

Check the box if you made contact–whether for one issue or all–so we can count your action. Contacting your representative’s staffers with multiple concerns is more efficient for both of you. They don’t mind, but be sure to contact both progressives and conservatives. They need to hear from you.

Look up your House representative here.

Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!

Your script: Hi, I’m from [ZIP] calling/writing about several issues. I’d like Rep. [NAME] to:

I value demo­­­­cracy

With respect and collaboration, we work to create a nation that welcomes all people, expands freedoms, and upholds the Constitution. Each citizen must be able to freely and fairly elect those who represent their values.

Action 1: Vote.

Source: AoCC

Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!

Vote for you, vote for your values, and vote for your neighbors’ well-being too. There’s a lot more at stake this election than red/blue. Use your voice to support democracy.

Need a ride to the polls?

Lyft is offering 50% off rides to polling places on Election Day.

Lime is offering 2 free e-bike/e-scooter rides to voters.

NAACP and UMG are offering discounts on rides to the polls.


Action 2: Get out the vote for ranked choice voting this weekend.

Source: Fair Vote Washington

Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!

Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference and strengthen representation. Successfully implemented in two states and several municipalities, RCV is now on the ballot in Seattle.

Sign up: Encourage Seattle voters to vote to support ranked choice voting.


Action 3: Get real-time support for voting difficulties.

Source: 866-OUR-VOTE

Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!

Voter intimidation is a crime, not protected free speech. If you have any problems voting, or witness or experience voter intimidation, call these Election Protection hotlines to speak to a trained, non-partisan volunteer

English: 866-OUR-VOTE

Spanish/English: 888-VE-Y-VOTA

Arabic/English: 844-YALLA-US

Asian Languages/English: 888-API-VOTE

Bonus: Share this information with your friends and post on social media.


Action 4: Counter misinformation with facts about the security of our elections.

Source: Brennan Center

Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!

As local news outlets shrink, misinformation about voting can spread easily on social media. This election season, read up on common myths about voting.

Share: Using the link above, tell skeptics about the safeguards, strength, and security of U.S. elections.

I value equality

Support the dignity of your rainbow of neighbors from every religion, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, age, and ability.

Action 5: Advocate for lead-free water for Chicago’s youngest residents.

Source: NRDC

Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!

Write: Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Office of the Mayor of Chicago, 121 N. LaSalle Street, Chicago City Hall 4th Floor, Chicago, IL 60602, or email at letterforthemayor@cityofchicago.org 

Script: Hi, I’m from [STATE] and I care about the health of Chicago residents exposed to the toxic effects of lead. The city’s current program has replaced only 180 of over 400,000 lead service lines, leaving families and children vulnerable to lead contamination and life-threatening health risks. No amount of lead is safe. I’m calling on Mayor Lightfoot to provide lead filters to vulnerable Chicago residents and accelerate the replacement of lead service lines.


Action 6: Oppose petrochemical operations in Cancer Alley.

Source: Rise St. James

Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!

Contact: President Biden, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20500, or via The White House contact form.

Script: Hi. I’m contacting you from [STATE] because I care about residents of Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley.” St. James Parish, Louisiana counts some 200 petrochemical plants, whose emissions have been shown to result in high rates of cancer and other serious illnesses among these disproportionately black communities. I urge you to declare an emergency to address this urgent health crisis.


Action 7: Advocate for the reproductive rights and health of aspiring Americans.

Source: Al Otro Lado

Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!

Write: Commissioner Chris Magnus, Customs and Border Protection, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20229 or call 1-877-227-5511.

Script: Hello, I’m contacting you from [STATE] to express my concern about CBP’s ongoing failure to provide adequate care for pregnant, postpartum, and nursing people in their custody. CBP is ill-equipped to provide the specialized pre- and post-natal care. I’m joining with the over 130 organizations and medical professionals urging immediate action to allow infants and pregnant, nursing, and postpartum people to receive proper care outside of CBP custody.

Acts of Grati­­­­tude

Signatures to the forms below will be printed with a letter of thanks from Americans of Conscience and mailed to the recipient. Your information will be removed from this website no later than 4 weeks after the Checklist’s publication date.

Thank John Oliver and Jon Stewart for using their platforms to advocate for transgender kids’ right to gender affirming medical care.

If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use these email addresses:

JO: c/o Michelle Goldstein, Media Relations Manager, Michelle.Goldstein@warnermedia.com

JS: c/o Janice Aguilar-Herrero, Press Contact, janiceah@apple.com


Thank Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D–CA) for introducing the Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act, which will enable people with certain disability designations to get married without jeopardizing their disability benefits.

If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use this address: 406 Cannon HOB, Washington, DC 20515


Thank an unnamed student artist from Grant, MI for designing and painting an inclusive, diverse “Stay Healthy” mural that makes other students feel comfortable to be themselves. We support you, are proud of you, and believe in your positive message. Creative people like you are the future.

While we normally provide the address here, this student was subjected to harassment by parents. Instead of sending her lots of cards with the same message, sign our gratitude instead here. We’ll send her a single letter with all of your signatures and some fun rainbow stickers.

Good News

If you find good news for democracy, equality, and the planet, share it with us here!

Progress on issues previously featured in the Checklist

National

  • The Biden-Harris administration announces billions of dollars in assistance to help cut energy costs this winter.
  • For the first time after a major disaster, people without a home before Hurricane Ian are eligible for federal housing aid.
  • Following public feedback, USCIS makes changes to the naturalization process to make it more accessible for applicants with disabilities.
  • SCOTUS rules that a SC senator must testify before the GA grand jury about contesting the 2020 election results.
  • SCOTUS rejects an appeal attempting to place the Biden administration’s student debt cancellation program on hold.

State

  • AZ: Court issues a temporary restraining order against groups illegally intimidating voters and monitoring ballot drop boxes. 
  • MA Supreme Court rules that a ballot initiative that could have upended fair labor laws cannot appear on the ballot.
  • NM: Bernalillo County District Court rules that because only the state governor has the authority to activate a militia, a violent paramilitary group is outlawed.
  • OR: A tech glitch resulting in 7,767 Oregonians not being pre-registered to vote is corrected in time for the midterm elections.
  • RI passes legislation to keep domestic violence survivors’ voter information confidential.
  • VA court rules that a state law dealing with censorship is unconstitutional and a violation of the First Amendment.

Local

Corporate/business

  • CVS and Walgreens agree to settlements totaling $10B for their role in the opioid crisis.
  • CVS lowers the price of their brand of menstrual products by 25% in 12 states with a “tampon tax.”

Groups and organizations

  • Over 600 Physicians for Reproductive Health write an open letter calling for news media to stop publishing misinformation, disinformation, and inflammatory threats regarding abortion.
  • Saie and SisterSong unite 35+ brands in the Every Body Campaign, the largest-ever beauty industry initiative raising awareness and funds for reproductive rights. 
  • First Book and 26 other nonprofits nationwide form the Diverse Books for All Coalition, an initiative to increase access to diverse children’s books.
  • The Human Rights Campaign shares a list of LGBTQ+ change-makers making an impact in their communities.

News with heart


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Housekeeping

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