Here’s to giving time to go vote!

A few years ago, I dressed up as the Statue of Liberty to vote.

Granted, I was also going to a Halloween party. But voting as Lady Liberty felt appropriate enough that I decided to make it an annual tradition.

It is October. We have costumes. We have places to wear them. Why not add voting to the itinerary?

Vote early when it opens where you live. If you vote by mail, follow the return instructions and take your ballot to an official drop box. Put on your “I Voted” sticker. Take a picture of yourself wearing it. Send it to your family group chat.

Give people something to high-five.

We bring this kind of enthusiasm to our favorite sports teams all the time. We wear the colors, compare numbers, and celebrate together. I would love a little of that energy around voting. Who in the family voted first? How many friends have made their plan? There are bragging rights available here.

But before we turn participation into a friendly competition, we need to make sure people have a way to participate.

“Go vote” sounds like one task.

Open it up and there are several inside: check your registration, find the rules, research the candidates and measures, decide how to vote, and make time to do it.

Then fit all of that around work, caregiving, appointments, and whatever surprise your Tuesday has waiting.

Two people can care equally about an election and have very different room in their lives to act. A flexible schedule, reliable transportation, and a quiet hour to read make a difference. So does having someone who can pick up your child or take your parent to an appointment.

Before we ask why someone hasn’t participated, we should ask what participation requires of them.

I spend a lot of my working life bringing people together. Sending the invitation is only part of the work. People need to understand what we are asking and see a way to fit it into their lives.

Someone receiving our reminder may have just moved. They may be voting for the first time or using a voting method they haven’t tried before. Encouragement helps. So do clear directions.

Vote.gov is an official starting point for voting options and local requirements. Early voting, mail ballots, and deadlines vary by state. Check before sharing instructions. Being confidently wrong about someone else’s deadline is not helpful.

When We All Vote also has resources to help people check their registration, learn about their ballot, and make a voting plan.

Here in California, we have Where’s My Ballot?. You can sign up for text, email, or voice notifications about the status of your mail ballot.

We track packages. I’m glad we can track this delivery, too.

Accessibility belongs in the plan from the beginning. Vote.gov has guidance on accessible voting locations, equipment, and accommodations for voters with disabilities. Share those resources when you share the invitation.

Then ask what would help.

Would finding the right election office (double checking) save someone a frustrating search? Would watching a child for an hour give a parent time to read their ballot? Would making plans to go together help someone get it on the calendar?

Let them tell you.

And keep the celebration welcoming. Someone may happily share a sticker selfie. Someone else may prefer to keep their participation private. Offering help does not entitle us to know how anyone voted.

The same attention matters after the election. If every community meeting happens during someone’s shift, how can they contribute? Can they send a question beforehand or read a useful summary afterward? If we need volunteers, can we offer a specific task with a clear beginning and end?

I want civic participation to fit into an actual life. That asks us to make the next step clearer, remove obstacles where we can, and leave room for some joy.

So yes, check the rules. Make your plan. Help someone who wants it.

Then wear the sticker. Share the photo. Give the high-five.

I’ll bring the Lady Liberty torch.

Make Room

Choose a contribution that fits your capacity. Help someone else find theirs.

There’s room for a big joy in doing your civic duty.

The Sample

“Before we ask why someone hasn’t participated, we should ask what participation requires of them.”

Track Notes

Make your voting plan, then invite your people to make theirs.

Start a sticker selfie thread. Celebrate a first-time voter. Offer company or practical help. Keep the bragging rights friendly and participation voluntary.

Liner Notes

A few useful places to start:

• Vote.gov’s guide to voting: Voting options and links to state and local requirements.

• Voting with a disability: Information about accessible voting and accommodations.

• When We All Vote’s Voting Hub: Registration checks, ballot information, and voting resources.

• California’s Where’s My Ballot?: Sign up for updates about your mail ballot.

• California voting locations and official drop boxes: Find a location and check its hours.

Next Track

What would make voting easier or more fun for you and your people?

And please tell me if you’re dressing up. Lady Liberty would love some company.

Press play.

Protect the queendom.