SUPPORT SEN WYDEN’S NATIONAL VOTE-BY-MAIL LEGISLATION

ACTION ONE: #INDIVISIBLE TUESDAY

In order to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to protect everyone’s health, we are suspending all in-person Indivisible Oregon events, including Indivisible Tuesdays. A handful of Indivisible Oregon organizers will meet with a staffer from Senator Merkley’s office via Zoom conference. Please follow us on Facebook for opportunities to share how your Call Squad call went and to see a recording of our virtual district visit. 

ACTION TWO: CALL YOUR SENATORS

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WYDEN AND MERKLEY:

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
Sen Wyden:  Thank you for introducing legislation to give everyone the option to vote-by-mail. I appreciate your efforts to protect both the security of our votes and our health. Please keep pushing for this to be passed before the November elections 
 Sen Merkley:  Senator Wyden’s bill would create national vote-by-mail, like we have here in Oregon. Voting by mail protects us from having to choose between voting and risking our health or that of others. I urge the Senator to co-sponsor this legislation and use every tool at your disposal to ensure it passes quickly.

ACTION THREE: CALL YOUR HOUSE REP

Not sure who your U.S. Representative is? Find out here. 

SAMPLE SCRIPTS FOR REPRESENTATIVES:

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
For Blumenauer, Bonamici, DeFazio, & Schrader:  Everyone must be able to vote during a national emergency. At the moment, we have both a national emergency and a rapidly approaching election. Please introduce national vote-by-mail legislation in the House compatible with Senator Wyden’s in the Senate and use every available tool to ensure it passes quickly.
For Walden:  As a constituent, I demand you support the House version of Senator Wyden’s national vote-by-mail legislation. No one should have to choose between their health and their right to vote. It is unconscionable to hold the right to vote hostage to party loyalty.

BACKGROUND:

We are grateful that here in Oregon we don’t have to choose between our health and our right to vote. And as progressives, we want to help everyone vote by extending our good fortune to the entire country.
Republicans have used their power to suppress voting, because historical data indicate that they are more likely to win when fewer people vote. Unsurprisingly, their voter suppression efforts are often targeted at people who are more likely to vote for Democrats — lower income, African American, Latinx, and young voters.
We are concerned that Trump and his GOP will use COVID-19 as an excuse to postpone or cancel the November election and remain in power. Although the Constitution and federal law protect us, we’ve seen Trump repeatedly violate both while his Republican party refuses to hold him accountable.
By passing Senator Wyden’s national vote-by-mail legislation, we can stop Trump from using the pandemic as an excuse to tamper with the November election. We must work together to ensure the bill passes quickly. Together, we can protect the vote without risking anyone’s health.

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