CALL TO ACTION – October 4, 2020

SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY

VOTE THIS THURSDAY!
Ballots will drop in Thurston County on Thursday, October 8 and the rest of the state a week later.
ACTION:

1. Fill out your ballot as soon as you get it. Trump is trying to slow down and weaken the vote and we won’t let him. Use the OI endorsements info as a guide as well as the Washington Voters pamphlet. https://www.olympiaindivisible.org/endorsed-candidates.html https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/research/election-results-and-voters-pamphlets.aspx
2. Take your ballot to a ballot drop box – locations: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/auditor/Pages/elections-dropbox.aspx
3. If you do not receive your ballot this week, check your voter registration for accuracy. And if you’ve moved or changed your name, please update your information. VoteWA.gov. If you’ve not received it by October 20, contact the County Auditor’s office for a replacement.
4. Check with 3 friends and see if they got their ballot. Share our voter info resources with them and encourage them to vote right away. Have them contact 3 of their friends.

 
Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall

• Elections: 360.786.5408
• Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing: 711 Washington Relay 
• Fax: 360.786.5223
• Email: TCAuditor@co.thurston.wa.us

Mason County - During the COVID crisis staff is available Mon-Fri 9 am- 4 pm. In person visits will be limited to the 18 day election period or by appointment.  
Email elections@co.mason.wa.us   Call: 360-427-9670 ext. 470
Auditor's Office 411 N 5th St. Shelton, WA 98584

https://www.masoncountyelections.us/p/blog-page_75.html
 

Get Ready to PROTECT THE VOTE
 
First, be aware of efforts at voter intimidation.
 
This is the first time in almost 40 years that the GOP will be allowed to participate in poll monitoring in a presidential election.  The court injunction banning them just expired.  Years ago, the GOP illegally tried to prevent voter participation with an intimidation ploy using armed off-duty police officers.
 
Now, free of the court injunction,  the Trump campaign has promised to have an “army of 50,000 poll watchers” across the country. Their intent is clearly to intimidate voters. Here’s why we are worried:
https://www.npr.org/2020/09/29/918317570/democrats-worry-gop-efforts-to-recruit-poll-watchers-may-lead-to-voter-intimidat
 
Second, be alert to GOP plans to overturn the will of the voters
The Trump campaign has stated they will ask Republican controlled state legislatures to ignore the will of their voters and require their electoral college voters to choose Trump. They also are planning to challenge the results and ask the Supreme Court to decide the outcome, hoping the conservative majority will rule in their favor.
 ​
What Can You Do?
 
ACTION: Start by educating yourself: The laws governing who can be a poll watcher and what is legal vary from state to state: https://www.ncsl.org/research/
 Call Secretary of State Kim Wyman’s office with your questions or concerns: 360-902-4151
 
Take The Pledge: https://choosedemocracy.us/
Take the pledge to stay informed and be ready to act if efforts are made to overturn the will of the people. The organization Choose Democracy is geared up to inform voters and act to protect the results of the election. Show your support and sign up now!
 
What To Do If You Witness Voter Intimidation:
https://campaignlegal.org/update/what-do-if-you-encounter-voter-intimidation

Tom Dyer says Protect the Results!
​Tom want you to know there are 4 weeks to go until the election. We need to win and make it stick! Watch the video here! https://youtu.be/rB3lEzKea64

Calling Arizona Voters with Our New Partner - Flip the West
 
Join with cheerful Olympia Indivisible members and friends twice a week starting Monday, October 5 from 6- 8 p.m. to make calls to Arizona voters. Our fabulous new partner organization is Flip the West.  Additional training and phone bank sessions are offered every Saturday from 10-12 noon, and alternating Mondays and Wednesdays through November 2.
 
Sign Up Here for any of the training and phone bank sessions.
Look for a confirmation email to join the event button (Zoom link) from Flip the West. The subject line will read:  Olympia Indivisible Make Calls to Arizona for Mark Kelly!  In advance of the training session, Flip the West will send you the “Arizona Tool Kit. ” Find scripts, information on Mark Kelly and other important documents that you can review in advance of the training.For more details check the OI website -  Calling Arizona Voters.

Ruth Sent Us
Celebrate with a short video of this week’s Ruth Sent Us demonstration! https://youtu.be/vATqjx40_5s

State & County Actions 

The Legislative Team Has Selected the Top Actions for the Week Of 10/04/20
Comment on the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan (TCMP) by 5:00 pm Friday, October 16.
The purpose of the public comment period is for local residents to weigh in on the plan and improve it.
The plan’s original purpose was to meet targets that science tells us are necessary to stay below a 2 degrees Celsius temperature rise and avoid catastrophic climate outcomes. Overall, we feel this is a good plan which we absolutely want adopted by each of the four jurisdictions.
Background Information: Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan Online Open House and Thurston Regional Planning Council website.
ACTION: Submit comments to the Thurston Regional Planning Council by 5:00 pm, Friday, October 16th. It is important for you to stress the importance of the plan to you, why you want it, and your own sense of urgency about the plan being adopted, funded and implemented.
 
Email: climate@trpc.org  
Mail : 2424 Heritage Court SW, Suite A, Olympia WA 98502; ATTN: Lester Tobias
Comments must be received by 5:00 pm, Friday, October 16th.
 
Talking Points to Personalize your Comments 

• Adopt energy and building codes that promote solar and Electric Vehicle (EV)  ready buildings
• Require energy performance ratings and audits when a building is sold, leased, rented or remodeled.
• Fund tax incentives.
• Measure the progress towards our climate goals. Require local government staff and public officials to use a climate equity and climate justice lens for all key decisions they make.

 
Sample Script: 
I recommend that the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan be adopted by all cities and the county without delay, and that sufficient funds and staff be set aside immediately to begin aggressive implementation.  
 
Name & Address