IC-SS News: October 14, 2024
The Election Is NOW: Vote & Act
Across the country, the election is underway, but you still have time to VOTE and to ACT. You’ll feel good knowing you’re DOING SOMETHING to elect Kamala Harris and Democrats to prevent Trump, MAGA, and Project 2025 from decimating our rights, our freedoms, our health care, our children’s education, and more.
Scroll down for resources on VOTING and TAKING ACTION.
Final Letter Events: Oct 15 & 22
All Vote Forward letters to voters in swing states must be mailed in the next couple of weeks. Join us for our ceremonial mail-off and for our very last letter party.
TOMORROW: Tues. Oct. 15: Ceremonial Mail-Off
On Tuesday, October 15th, at 5:00 pm, we’ll meet at the Henry McGee Post Office, 4601 S. Cottage Grove, for our ceremonial send-off to our thousands of letters. No need to register–just show up, enjoy an autumn sweet treat, and help mail the letters with us!
Throwback to 2022: Here we are sending off letters to voters. Join us Oct 15, 2024!
“Postscript” Letter Party: Tues. Oct 22
But wait — there’s more! YES, we’re sending off several thousand letters at the McGee Post Office on October 15th. BUT Vote Forward says writers can mail letters all the way up until October 29th. So we’re going to squeeze in ONE LAST LETTER PARTY: a postscript party, if you will.
Last week, 23 writers joined us! Join us once more on October 22nd: RSVP*
Thank you, host Lisa Rademacher, letter leader Steve Kagan, and all the WRITERS!
For our final letter party before the election, we’ll meet Tuesday, October 22 to write Vote Forward letters to voters. Once we write them, we’ll (less ceremonially, this time) drop them immediately in a mailbox. RSVP*SIGN UP: Please RSVP* to write our very last Vote Forward letters to voters with us on Tuesday, October 22nd, 6:00-8:00 pm at St. Paul and the Redeemer Church (SPR), 4945 S Dorchester (with our heartfelt thanks to SPR!).
Letter leader Steve Kagan will bring letter printouts, envelopes, and pens for you. If you can, bring stamps to donate. IC-SS will provide pizza plus soft drinks. Feel free to bring along wine or beer, a side dish, or a sweet treat to share. Do RSVP* so we know how much pizza to order!
Awesome SHIRTS and awesome WORK! RSVP for Oct 22.
*Having trouble with the automatic RSVP? Instead, you can just send an email to Indiv.Chi.South@gmail.com, saying that you’ll attend the letter party on Thursday, October 10th and/or Tuesday, October 22nd. Please provide your full name and cell number.
3 Weeks to Go: Step Up!
THREE WEEKS TO GO. Connect with the citywide Indivisible Chicago Alliance (ICA) for training, support, and opportunities to ensure the U.S. elects Kamala Harris and keeps Republicans out of the White House, Congress, and statehouses. Time is short, and as Michelle Obama says, DO SOMETHING.
Thanks to Indivisible Chicago-South Side friends who turned out to canvass in Michigan!
- Find opportunities: ICA Action Calendar
- Knock doors in Wisconsin & Michigan: ICA Canvassing
- Phone voters with ICA:
- Michigan Mondays, 3-5 pm
- Wisconsin Wednesdays, 6-8 pm
- Michigan Thursdays, 3-5 pm
- Wisconsin Fridays, 4-6 pm
Phonebankers get training & support on Zoom–and debrief together
You can also join Indivisible Chicago’s partner Rust Belt Rising doing voter registration phone banks
Get Trained to Canvass – Thurs Oct 17
Do you feel reluctant or unsure about the idea of talking to voters at their doors? Take heart — this coming Thursday, you can attend a free canvass training class to become a confident and effective canvasser and make a difference in vital swing states Michigan and Wisconsin.
Indivisible Chicago Alliance invites you to attend “Yes, You Canvass,” an in-person training at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia. The training is lively, informative, interactive, and fun! Get info and sign up.
- When: This Thursday, Oct. 17th, 5:00-7:00 pm (doors open 4:30)
- Where: The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia
- RSVP: Register here
Voting Resources for You
Have you voted yet? If so, hooray! If not, vote as soon as you can — by mail or in person. Here are resources to help you:
Info About Your Ballot
Who and what is on your ballot? To find out, visit Ballotpedia
Who’s running for Chicago School Board? Find out which school-board district you live in and learn about the candidates for your district in the Sun-Times/WBEZ/Chalkbeat Chicago school-board district resource page.
Who’s running in the judicial elections? On your Chicago ballot, you’ll be voting for lots of judges (or whether to retain sitting judges). Here are two guides to help you:
- Injustice Watch: Check Your Judges guide
- Vote for Judges: Judicial Elections Guide
Casting Your Ballot: Chicago Board of Elections
Voting by mail in Chicago:
- Here is vote-by-mail information.
- Drop your mail ballot in a US mailbox as soon as possible OR in a Chicago Board of Elections drop box. Here’s drop box information.
Early voting in Chicago: Early voting in person is underway! Here’s early voting information.
Last day of voting: The last day you can vote is the official election day, Tuesday, November 5th. Here’s Chicago election day voting information.
Questions about other Chicago voting matters? Visit Chicago Board of Elections website.
Live in suburban Cook County? Here’s suburban Cook County voting info.
More Resources
- What’s a great all-around resource for Chicago voters? Check out the League of Women Voters Chicago voters’ guide.
- What if I have a problem voting or a question I can’t answer? Contact the Election Protection Hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
Organizations & Opportunities
Indivisible Chicago-South Side shares information and actions from other organizations on issues important in our country, state, city, and communities.
TOMORROW: Get Postcards, Attend IDC Meeting
Nearby group Indivisible Downtown Chicago (IDC), has EXTRA POSTCARDS TO VOTERS to give out. You write the postcards based on a script, buy stamps, and mail them soon.
IDC will give out packets of postcards at the beginning of their monthly meeting, TOMORROW EVENING, Tues., Oct. 15. You can attend IDC’s entire meeting or just pick up postcards at the beginning if in a hurry.
When: Tues., Oct 15, 6:30-8:30pm (Postcards: 6:30; meeting: 7:00)
Where: Born Again Vintage (703 S. Dearborn)
What: Regular meeting
RSVP: Register/Sign up for postcards
NOTE: Please see the RSVP form for more info on Indivisible Downtown Chicago and their meeting venue, event, and mailing list. RSVPing for the meeting adds you to the IDC mailing list.
Support World Central Kitchen
From World Central Kitchen: World Central Kitchen teams across the world remain deeply committed to serving delicious, chef-prepared meals to people with the dignity they deserve. Learn more at World Central Kitchen website. Here are some special WCK efforts (among many):
- World Central Kitchen (WCK) is providing crucial aid to affected communities in the Middle East. Partnering with local organizations in Gaza and working on the ground in Egypt, Cyprus, and Lebanon, WCK is committed to offering support to Palestinians and anyone else in need. Learn more/Donate
- In the early months of the invasion by Russia, WCK served millions of fresh meals to Ukrainian families fleeing home as well as people remaining in the country. Now, WCK is supporting frontline communities in eastern and southern Ukraine where the need for food is urgent. Learn more/Donate
- World Central Kitchen’s Relief Team is responding to communities affected by Hurricanes Helene & Milton in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida.
- Learn more/Donate (Helene)
- Learn more/Donate (Milton)
Indivisible Chicago-South Side
Email: Indiv.Chi.South@gmail.com
Follow IC-SS on Facebook, Instagram, Threads (& Twitter for now)
Co-Leaders: Esther Peters,Betsy Rubin, Teri Watkins, Sarah Lincoln
About: Group & Co-Leader Statements
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