#CountEveryVote | The Top Four Actions You Can Take Before The Election
We will be in rapid-response mode soon, but please take one last moment to prepare
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This election will be different from any other we have seen. The likelihood of a contested outcome means it could be days, weeks, even months before the election is resolved. Therefore, rather than thinking about the immediate election results as a binary outcome (i.e., Trump wins or Biden wins), we urge organizations to prepare for a period of uncertainty. 
 
Defending democracy may not be in your mission statement, but it is essential to protecting civil rights, our health, jobs, and the environment. We need our community to be ready and willing to protect every vote and defend our democracy. A core challenge for this defense is setting realistic expectations for the time it will take election officials to count votes and certify a winner in the days following the election. 

Remember, our role is to:
  • Connect the dots for our supporters and fill our lane in the broader progressive movement
  • Set expectations and provide trusted information to minimize uncertainty and disinformation
  • Give agency and empower our supporters and staff
Here are the top four actions you can take this week:
  • Help us kickstart our online digital campaign by following this how-to-guide. 
  • Contact Jackie Day at jday@partnershipproject.org to make sure your staff is registered for CDP's daily 9.05 calls and listserve.  
  • If you are messaging on GOTV, then add the need to ensure that we count every vote. Find more guidance in our toolkit. 
  • Please take care of yourself and one another this week (see my follow-up email).
CDP is here to support you. Please let us know if we can tailor any of these materials for your organization or coalition.  

Please note that CDP does not engage in activities to support or oppose any candidate for public office and does not encourage other C3s to do so.

P.S. Don't forget our helpful guide that contains all of the information you need to prepare for this period of uncertainty. 
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Count Every Vote C3 Training Sessions


Nov 2 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM ET | Know Your Rights and De-escalation 2.0 | Register HERE

Hosted by Count Every Vote, Beautiful Trouble and ACLU. This training is for folks who will be showing up to demonstrations, and want to upskill their de-escalation skillset through the ABC's of de-escalation response. The second part of this training will focus on how to be thoughtful and creative about actions taken at protests, as well as actions that help keep events safe and calm. Finally, this training will also include a segment on Know Your Rights.


Nov 2 | 7:30 - 9:00 PM ET | Election Defenders Mass Rally | Register HERE

Everyone get on to get pumped up to get out to the polls!!


Nov 4 | 7:00 - 9:00 PM ET | Know Your Rights and De-escalation 2.0 | Register HERE

Hosted by Count Every Vote, Beautiful Trouble and ACLU. This training is for folks who will be showing up to demonstrations, and want to upskill their de-escalation skillset through the ABC's of de-escalation response. The second part of this training will focus on how to be thoughtful and creative about actions taken at protests, as well as actions that help keep events safe and calm. Finally, this training will also include a segment on Know Your Rights.

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Nov 5 | 7:00 - 9:00 PM ET | Know Your Rights and De-escalation 2.0 | Register HERE

Hosted by Count Every Vote, Beautiful Trouble and ACLU. This training is for folks who will be showing up to demonstrations, and want to upskill their de-escalation skillset through the ABC's of de-escalation response. The second part of this training will focus on how to be thoughtful and creative about actions taken at protests, as well as actions that help keep events safe and calm. Finally, this training will also include a segment on Know Your Rights. 


PLEASE encourage people to report everything to Election Protection - it’s important to document what’s happening so they can respond in the moment and create good reports after. English: 866-OUR-VOTE; Spanish/English: 888-VE-Y-VOTA; Arabic/English: 844-YALLA-US; Asian Languages/English: 888-API-VOTE  
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Phillip Ellis
he | him | his
Combined Defense Project