How I'm Doing After Election Day 2024

Image: Election party cookies that say "It's about MAdam Time,"
"Kalama Harris 2024, and "We Are Not Going Back"
made by Nichole's Cupcakery

Hello from the day after the day after Election Day 2024. Yesterday was even harder than November 9, 2016 when the nation didn’t fully comprehend what a Trump victory would mean. Today, I’m feeling better and I’m back to work. I’m blogging about how my day went because I think it’s important to acknowledge how we handle life when the worst things happen despite our best activism efforts. Also, I want to offer some perspectives on the GOOD things that happened in my state of Missouri. In sharing all of this, I hope I can help some of you still feeling frozen to climbing back into the fight. Because we’re going to need everybody!

• I turned off my text notifications for everyone but my children. Apologies friends, but this is a vital part of the process when I’m sorting out my own feelings.
• I sent a text to my children because moms reach out when kids are hurting.

• I had chocolate chip cookies for breakfast. I’m an empty-nesting mom with no one to set an example for and no one to stop me.

• I emptied the dishwasher and loaded the dirty dishes from the sink. An act of love for my spouse and an investment in making the rest of the day nicer.

• I showered and swallowed some Advil for my aching back. A step towards physically feeling better.

• I dressed in comfy clothes and put on makeup, not for anyone else’s eyes, but just for the ritual of getting ready for something beyond that moment.

• I wordlessly hugged my husband when he got up because we didn’t need words to understand the pain and disappointment of the morning.

• I bought milk at the store and complimented the clerk on her hair, which was cut short since the last time I saw her. I don’t know her politics, but she’s part of my community and I made her morning better.

• I took a doggie from the local animal shelter on a date. “Corbin” was a stellar and well-behaved pupper. He gave me emotional support, and I gave him a break from living in a shelter. Since I had pre-planned to have the day off (knowing I'd need rest win or lose), the rest of the day was dedicated to loving and exercising Corbin before I had to take him back.

Image: Shelter dog Corbin doing his best to help me
with post-election day blues

As I did all those things, I thought about what I said to people before Election Day when they asked what I thought would happen. I told folks that if you care about enough issues, every election day always has both wins and losses. Yes, Harris lost the presidency and Trump will plunge us into another four years of chaos we can't afford when people are struggling in poverty today and scientists say we only have about 5-6 years before we do irreversible climate damage. 

Image: The results of the overturn on the Missouri
abortion ban with 51.7% of the vote

But farther down my ballot, we had some victories that are worth celebrating even with our heavy hearts. Here in Missouri, we reversed a state abortion ban, protecting abortion rights up to fetal viability with exceptions afterward to protect the life or health of the pregnant person.

Image: Cindy volunteering at a polling
location in the rain

The reversal of the abortion ban in a very red state is a testament to the power of citizen activism. Ordinary people worked hard collecting thousands of signatures to put the amendment on the ballot, got certified as notaries to authorize the signatures, knocked on doors, wrote postcards, wrote letters to the editor, and stood at polls in the rain encouraging voters to vote "yes" on Amendment 3. And it worked!

But that’s not all we did. We prevented Missouri from using court fees to pay law enforcement salary, which would have monetized our court system in a way that hurt people in poverty and racial minorities. We also raised the minimum wage to $13.75 an hour for 2025 and $15 an hour for 2026. All these measures passed by very slim majorities, but they passed!

So yes, really bad stuff happened yesterday. But the good things that happened are not meaningless. It means the world to someone feeling scared out of their mind about a harmful pregnancy. It means a lot to someone in poverty to have an extra couple of dollars per hour on their paycheck. These are tangible wins for people in my state that help remind me that activism and advocacy work! We’re going to need a lot more of this grassroots power in the next four years.

To wrap it up, I’ll share some inspiring words that resonated greatly with me from Venice Williams, the Executive Director at Fondy Food Center in Milwaukee. She answers the question, “What do we do now?” She wrote,

You are awakening to the

same country you fell asleep to.

The very same country.

Pull yourself together.

And,

when you see me,

do not ask me

“What do we do now?

How do we get through the next four years?”

Some of my Ancestors dealt with

at least 400 years of this

under worse conditions.

Continue to do the good work.

Continue to build bridges not walls.

Continue to lead with compassion.

Continue the demanding work of liberation for all.

Continue to dismantle broken systems, large and small.

Continue to set the best example for the children.

Continue to be a vessel of nourishing joy.

Continue right where you are.

Right where you live into your days.

Do so in the name of

The Creator who expects

nothing less from each of us.

And if you are not “continuing”

ALL of the above,

in community, partnership, collaboration?

What is it you have been doing?

What is it you are waiting for?

Now, since my youngest said that pushed her close to crying, here's a sweet picture of me and Corbin to make everyone happy.

Image: Corbin the shelter dog surprising Cindy
with a lick on the cheek.

Image: Book cover

Buy an autographed copy of "From Changing Diapers to Changing the World: Why Moms Make Great Advocates and How to Get Started" at my website www.changyit.com or order it from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or any independent bookstore!

Mail-in Voting: Know the rules…get it done

Image: An "I Voted at Home" sticker on a college student's
Deadpool-themed collegiate letterman-style jacket

I’m writing this last-minute emergency blog just before Election Day 2024 because I know a lot of college kids and their parents are freaking out right now trying to get ballots mailed in. As of this posting, we only have one week left before Election Day on November 5, 2024, so let’s get all those out-of-state college students (and any other mail-in voters!) informed and voting TODAY!

Lots of voters, including President Barack Obama, love mail-in voting for ease and convenience. Like I mentioned in my earlier blog, Six Reasons to Vote Early, it can free you up on Election Day to fulfill work/travel requirements or volunteer with election activities. It might reduce your anxiety as well, but only if you know the rules and get your ballot mailed on-time!

First off, know that this blog is for readers around the U.S., so visit your state election website for specific rules for your state. Or, go to the www.vote411.org website by the League of Women Voters. Click on your state on the US map and it will bring you to a link where you can find voter information.

The sections below will help you with the biggest considerations, but the best piece of advice I have is to visit your state info site and mail in that ballot as quickly as possible. You don’t want your voice to be silenced because of weather or processing delays!

Eligibility deadlines

Image: A college student with dyed red hair
filling out a mail-in ballot at a diner

Your state has a deadline for requesting the mail-in ballot, whether you request it online or have a relative request it for you. In Missouri, it was the second Wednesday before election day, which was weeks ago. If you’ve passed the deadline, you’ll have to vote in person. If not, continue reading!

Mailing Deadlines

Make sure you know when the deadline is to get that ballot to the election office! You can drop it in a regular U.S. mailbox, but if you are super close to the deadline, you could use an overnight mail service even though that’s very expensive.

In Missouri, voted absentee ballots must be received at the election office by 7:00 PM on Election Day. They may be returned by mailing service, in-person or close relative, or curbside service.

Notaries and how to find them

You may not need a notary public at all, but if you’re from a state like mine, you need one ASAP!

What is a notary?

A notary is an official recognized by your state who witnesses and validates the signing of important documents. Most people know about them if they’ve had to sign deeds, trusts, or important bills of sales. Notaries ensure signers are who they say they are at the time of signing. They will look at your photo ID (state ID, driver’s licence, passport, military ID, etc.), have you sign the ballot, then date and stamp the ballot. DO NOT SIGN YOUR BALLOT BEFORE GOING TO THE NOTARY. The whole point is that they witness you signing it!

Where can you find a notary?

Image: A masked student in glasses
holding a mail-in ballot in front of
book shelving at a library

Common places to find notaries near college campuses are public libraries, banks, and UPS stores. (UPS stores are independently owned, so not all of them have notaries. You should call and ask.) You usually have to make an appointment, but not always. If you can’t find one, ask a librarian or someone in the school’s bursar’s office. The bursar’s office is in charge of all the student accounts, financial aid, and compliance, so I bet they’re interested in making sure students sign legal documents correctly.

How much will a notary cost?

Image: A blank ballot held in front of a
BaltimoreCounty Public Library sign
saying, "$3 per signature"

It often costs between $3-15 to have a ballot notarized. The cost can vary even between places in the same town. The UPS store where we took our freshman in Boulder was $15. My college junior paid $3 at a Baltimore public library. Political writer and college student, Gabe Fleischer of “Wake Up to Politics” paid $5 at a UPS store around Washington D.C. In Missouri, ballot notification is required by the state to be free of charge, but not every UPS store seems to know that, so definitely call ahead to avoid an argument.

If you are lucky and can find a notary not affiliated with a business, you can avoid a charge. Some activists I know took the step to become a notary specifically to help people with voting and notarize election petition signatures. 

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to get this done as soon as you can. My Baltimore kiddo told me that appointments for all notaries their campus are booked up until the election. They texted me this anecdote:

Image: A masked student about to mail
their ballot in a U.S. Mailbox

“The person in the background of my selfie is a Pennsylvania absentee voter turning in her ballot, and some of her friends still haven’t gotten their ballots! So a group of them are giving up on the absentee process entirely and are doing a 4 hour round trip to drive to Philadelphia from Baltimore on Election Day itself.”

Proof of receipt

Your state likely has a way to notify you when they process your ballot. Sadly, Missouri, Illinois, Mississippi, and Wyoming do not have state-wide on-line ballot tracking. It is possible that your county might have it, so if you see a website or a QR code on your ballot you can check there. (ex. Missouri doesn't track it as a state, but St. Louis County tracks ballots) If you’re not in those states, you can track your ballot at https://www.vote.org/ballot-tracker-tools/ .

Some states even proactively contact voters. One of my family members let me know, “Dropped my San Francisco, CA ballot in a mailbox yesterday. Got an email today that it’s been received & counted! Checkmark, done!” Well done, San Francisco. That’s an amazing turnaround!

Image: "Keep Calm & Ask Mom" meme
image from MomsRising.org/Vote

I hope this post is helpful in this late stage of the election season. Please share it with anyone who needs this information. Students, don’t be embarrassed if you’re confused. It IS confusing to be a first-time voter at college, surrounded by a bunch of other first-time voters from other states who have different rules. 

Use your resources to do this important task that will help shape your future. Ask your parents, older students, or maybe even your former U.S. government teacher for help. 

(Hi, Dr. Smith) Chances are that they want you to vote and would love to help you!

Image: Book cover

Buy an autographed copy of "From Changing Diapers to Changing the World: Why Moms Make Great Advocates and How to Get Started" at my website www.changyit.com or order it from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or any independent bookstore!

What should you bring to the polls?

Image: Cindy smiling with sunglasses and an "I Voted" sticker

It’s voting time and lots of people are headed to actual, physical voting booths! I think early voting (mail-in or in-person) is the best voting for all the reasons I wrote in my last post, “Six Reasons to Vote Early.” But whether you’re voting early or on actual Election Day (November 5, 2024), let’s run through a quick checklist of things you should bring to the polls with you if you're voting in person.

Your ID

Rules may vary by state, so make sure you look up what you can use in your state. If you don’t have a driver’s license, I suggest bringing two forms just in case you run into any trouble. In my state of Missouri, you can use:

• A non-expired Missouri driver license;

• A non-expired military ID, including a veteran’s ID card;

• A non-expired United States passport; or

• Another photo ID issued by the United States or Missouri which is either not expired or expired after the most recent general election.

If you don’t have any of those with you, you can cast a “provisional ballot” and you’ll get instructions on how to verify that they count your provisional ballot.

Check ahead of time with your state to see exactly what you'll need.

Your completed sample ballot

Our Missouri ballot is so long this time that would be hard to keep all my choices in my head. Research your choices ahead of time and bring in your sample ballot all filled out, so that you can keep that voting line moving! The League of Women Voters' voter info site at vote411.org can help you find out what's on your ballot if you didn't receive a sample in the mail.

Your patience

Image: Cindy wearing a "Dear person behind me" hoodie
beside a sign that says "polling place."

Even in early voting, lines are pretty long this year, especially around lunchtime when working folks hope to squeeze in. You might bring some water and a snack to help you be patient if you're skipping a meal to vote!

I voted at a library and picked up a graphic novel to pass the time. I also wore a calming sweatshirt to soothe the people behind me. It read, “Dear person behind me, the world is a better place with you in it. love, the person in front of you.” It worked! They tapped me on the shoulder before I entered the room to tell me they liked it and took a picture.

Your values

Image: An image of Presiding Bishop Curry of the Episcopal
Church with his quote, "The principle on which Christians must
vote is the principle: 'Does this look like love of neighbor?'"

If you're of voting age, you have had plenty of time to develop some values you live by even if you don't think about them a lot.

If you live your life with a code of kindness to others, respecting the constitution, feeding the hungry, caring for elders, protecting children, welcoming the stranger, and loving your neighbor, think about what your personal code specifically means for the issues in front of us which candidates will best reflect those values.

Image: A meme encouraging us to vote as if we have
personal stakes in issues "because privilege has no
place in an election, but empathy does."

For instance, when I fill out my ballot, I consider…who will help protect children from gun violence? Who will preserve the Earth for our children? Who will increase the Child Tax Credit and SNAP (food stamps) benefits? Who will be fair and just toward immigrants? Who will provide reproductive healthcare to pregnant people if they need an abortion for physical and mental well-being? Who sees LGBTQ rights as human rights? Who will protect funding for global health? Who understands that Black lives matter? Who will help bring peace to nations instead of funding war?

A mask

I know, I know. People don’t like masking, but voting lines are no longer spaced out and these places are getting crowded! Not only is COVID-19 making a comeback in my area, but it's cold and flu season. I felt lucky I found a spare mask in my backpack because I didn’t anticipate being packed in with so many people.

Your phone/camera

Take a selfie, post it on social media, and send it to friends and family asking them to vote, too. It’s totally legal to use peer pressure to get your people to the polls.

Your friends and/or family

Image: Cindy and daughter sitting in the car
wearing "I Voted" stickers

Speaking of your friends and family, why not bring them with you? It helps with boredom and makes sure they get their vote counted, too. If you're a parent of minors, consider bringing your kids, so they can see what voting is like. Be a voter and raise a voter!

There you go! Double-check that you have all you need with you, especially that ID because it’s disappointing to be turned away at the polls only to wait in a longer line later. Good luck and thank you for being a voter!

Image: Book cover

Buy an autographed copy of "From Changing Diapers to Changing the World: Why Moms Make Great Advocates and How to Get Started" at my website www.changyit.com or order it from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or any independent bookstore!