Six things to do after you’ve voted | Take Action Newsletter

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Take Action

You voted. Now what?

We’re shattering voter turnout records in Texas thanks to people like you.

If you’re one of the 95% who have already voted, here are some things to do to help run up the score. Remember—it’s not enough to win; it must be decisive if we want to declare victory on Election Night and not in the courts.

  1. Sign up for a phone bank shift with Indivisible. Support work in key races across the country and share information with voters on how they can safely cast their ballot.
  2. Join a Powered by People event to flip the Texas House. Powered by People has expanded to all 254 Texas counties! Talk to current registered voters in rural, suburban, and urban Texas. Also see last week’s newsletter for a list of state House candidates who need your support the most.
  3. Send postcards to your GOP leaning friends. We’ve completed our postcard program—thank you!—but what about people in your network? If you act now, you can still get personal postcards in the mail to friends and family.
  4. Print flyers to hand out at work, reminding people to vote early. (Best to keep it nonpartisan.
  5. Volunteer with or donate to campaigns. Give candidates a final surge of resources during the last week of campaigning.
  6. Finally, it’s important to acknowledge that this is not a normal election. Even if Biden wins, it may not be over on Election night. Trump and the GOP will do absolutely anything to hold onto power. We must be prepared for all possible post-election outcomes. Sign up here to Protect the Results. Sign up here for a “choose Democracy” training with George Lakey.

Election Spotlight: The Williamson County Sheriff’s race

The race for Williamson County Sheriff should be on everyone’s radar—not just Wilco residents’.

The incumbent, Robert Chody, was recently indicted for felony evidence tampering in the case of Javier Ambler. As you may recall, Wilco cops chased Ambler, who is Black, into Travis County and killed him with multiple tasers. During the arrest Ambler repeatedly stated “I can’t breathe” and “please save me” before dying.

Ambler’s death was recorded by a Live PD reality television crew. Chody solicited Live PD to film in Williamson County and then, according to USA Today, hired troubled officers to play to the camera. Last week, the Statesman released an in-depth study of the rate of police violence in Williamson County since Chody enlisted Live PD.  They found that “violent encounters between Williamson County sheriff’s deputies and civilians nearly doubled from 2017, the year before Live PD joined the agency, to 2019, the height of the department’s television fame.”

The Statesman has endorsed Chody’s opponent, Mike Gleason, writing:

“No community can call itself safe when its policing serves egos and image over the public good. We strongly urge voters to oust Chody and elect challenger Mike Gleason as Williamson County sheriff.”

Mike Gleason

Gleason, a Democrat, is an experienced law enforcement officer. He retired as chief deputy after 24 years in the Williamson County Sheriff’s office—in the same year Chody took office. The Statesman endorsement goes on to say:

“Gleason plans to revamp the chain of command, weeding out unfit supervisors, establishing standards for promotions and ensuring everyone has the right qualifications for their posts. He will work with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to overhaul the sheriff’s training academy, a facility that was run so unprofessionally under Chody that the police chiefs of Pflugerville, Manor and Buda swore off sending their new recruits there.”

Grab your Wilco friends and family and make sure they are voting for Mike Gleason. Support his campaign at gleason4wilcosheriff.com and make a donation here.

More more information on Javier Ambler, visit justiceforjavierambler.com.

Events

Sign up here to Protect the Results.

Sign up here for a “choose Democracy” training with George Lakey.

Saturday, October 31

Race and Social Justice: The Search for Solidarity in Austin

3 p.m. Hear from five dynamic speakers, including:

  • Steve Adler, Mayor of Austin
  • Dr. Stephanie Elizalde, Superintendent of AISD
  • Jan Goss-Gibson, CEO, Civility Consulting
  • Robin Henderson, Assistant Chief of Police (APD)
  • Chas Moore, Executive Director, Austin Justice Coalition

Tickets $24 – $100. All proceeds will benefit the Central Texas Food Bank, the Town Lake Chapter’s $20,000 annual Scholarship Fund, and The Links Foundation, Incorporated.

Buy tickets

Your moment of Zen

 

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