Do you agree that we need to stand up to Trumpism? Here’s how you can help as we approach Election Day, Ypsilanti.

A few quick thoughts for my fellow Ypsilantians… things that you can do between now and Election Day, not only to make your voting experience better, but to finally change the tide against Trumpism, and to do so in a decisive fashion.

First: Read Your Ballot… If you live in Ypsi, and you haven’t done so already, go to the Secretary of State’s website and download your sample ballot, and, then, if you’re so inclined, head back to the the thread last week where we discussed the various races, sharing notes on Judges, comparing notes on City Council candidates, and debating the finer points of the ballot initiatives we’ll all be voting on.

Second: Find Your Polling Place… Just to be sure, check and make sure you know where to vote. My polling place changed last time, and I suspect that others in Ypsilanti may have as well.

Third: Pack A “Fuck Yeah I’m Voting” Voting Bag… Like an expectant mother, make a bag and put it by your front door. Not only will it remind you to vote come Election Day, but it’ll make it more likely that you’ll have a good voting experience. One this that you absolutely need to have, right along with your ID, is the this number: 833-430-VOTE. That’s the number to call if you experience any problem at all voting. And, along with your ID, and that number, be sure to include some food, like granola bars, to share. [Nothing is better than sharing food with people in line.] And it couldn’t hurt to bring a couple of umbrellas, as it’s supposed to rain. [Bring a few, as someone near you in line may not have one, and we want to be sure that everyone sticks around to vote.] And, I guess, if you don’t like talking people, bring a magazine or two.

Fourth: Make a Contribution… If you’ve you got any money at all that you can afford to invest in the race, the folks at Vote Save America have identified a number of races where you’re donations could still make a significant difference. And, of course, there are still those three flippable seats in Michigan that we talked about back in August… here’s what I wrote about them at the time.

I know, having lived through the 2016 election cycle, polls can be horribly wrong, but, as of right now, the folks at FiveThirtyEight are giving the Democrats a 74.6% chance of retaking the House, which is currently controlled by the Republicans, who hold 236 of the 435 seats in the chamber. [The Democrats currently hold 193, and there are 6 vacancies.] So, to retake the House, the Democrats would need to hold every seat they currently hold, and pick up 24 seats currently held by Republicans. And, according to the FiveThirtyEight model, as of right now, “there is an 80% chance that the Democrats will gain anywhere from 14 to 58 seats.” So, it’s conceivable that we can do this. We just need to stay strong, knock on every door, give till it hurts, and flip 24 seats… The question I’m struggling with is which of these races I should try to help with, seeing as my district is solidly Democrat.

(According to modeling done by) FiveThirtyEight, we have a decent chance of picking up three seats (here in the mitten state); the Michigan 7th (where Republican incumbent Tim Walberg currently leads Democrat Gretchen Driskell by only about 2.5 points), the Michigan 8th (which FiveThrityEight considers a “toss-up” between incumbent Mike Bishop and Democratic challenger Elissa Slotkin), and the Michigan 11th (which is currently leaning Democrat, with Haley Stevens leading Lena Epstein for the seat being vacated by the reprehensible Dave Trott).

The good news is, since I last posted that, these three races have shifted even more toward the Democrats. According to FiveThirtyEight, Elissa Slotkin is leading Mike Bishop by over a point, Haley Stevens is leading Lena Epstein by over four points, and Gretchen Driskell is within striking distance of Tim Walberg. Not only that, but three more races have become competitive; Michigan’s 1st, 2nd and 6th. The Republicans in those districts are still leading my relatively large margins, but no where near the level that people expected, and there’s a chance that we could have one or two upsets on our hands if Democrats turn out to vote in record numbers.

Fifth: Volunteer… I was just at the Democratic Party Headquarters on Michigan Avenue (seen in the photo above), and they need more volunteers to work the phone bank and go door to door, encouraging people to go and and vote on Tuesday. The office, at 418 Michigan Avenue, is open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM today, tomorrow, and Monday, and from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Election Day. According to the folks at the office, there’s no need for drivers on Election Day, but there’s a huge need for people to work the phones and go door to door. So, if you have an hour or two to work a shift, it would be very much appreciated. And, of course, if you want to bring food when you show up to volunteer, it would be awesome. As of right now, the snack levels look pretty good, but I’m sure, as we get closer to Election Day, bottles of water, muffins, and the like, would be appreciated.

Sixth: Talk with Your Friends… Tell everyone you know to get out and vote, especially any young folks you may know. We need every vote we can get here in the liberal paradise of Ypsilanti to offset the conservative votes elsewhere in the state, and anything at all that you can do to encourage those who you know to do so would be incredible. And don’t just say, “Are you voting?” Ask if they’ve seen their ballot. Ask if they know where their polling place is. Ask if they’d like to come along with you, have lunch afterward wit the them, whatever. This is the most important election of our lifetimes, and we all have to do whatever we can to vote the Republican Party out of power. The future of our democracy depends on it.

Did I forget anything? If so, please leave a comment.

See you at the polls.