CALL TO ACTION #989: Secure the Election; Vote for Equity (August 20, 2020)
75 Days
Until the November 3rd Election
We’ve been calling it the November 3rd election, but it really takes place in OCTOBER. Mail service could be iffy this year with Trump and DeJoy attacking the USPS. We urge you to vote early, use a ballot box if you can get to one, then track your ballot (more on tracking once the ballots are mailed).
Important Dates:
October 13: Last day to register to vote; postmark or online by 11:59 pm
October 14-20: Voter’s ballots mailed; find your ballot box
October 20: Last day for county Voter’s Pamphlet distribution
November 3: Ballots must be in a ballot box or with the county clerk by 8 pm
Our Recommendations for November
What Voting Blue means to us: We Steering Committee members are pragmatic progressives with no “purity or litmus tests” for our key issues. Rather, we will support the candidate that comes closest to our positions, which means that moderate Joe Biden is much preferred to fascist Donald Trump. And, electability matters; one can’t govern from the sidelines. Sometimes that means backing someone who looks less blue than their opponent, someone who is in a better position to be elected and actually help us. Finally, some candidates might want us to maintain our distance for political reasons specific to their constituencies. We respect that, so people we would otherwise recommend may be missing from this list.
President: Joe Biden
U.S. Senate: Jeff Merkley
U.S. Congress CD2: Alex Spenser
Secretary of State: Shemia Fagan
State Treasurer: Tobias Read
State Attorney General: Ellen Rosenblum
State Senate District 2: Jerry Allen
State House District 4: Mary Middleton
State House District 5: Pam Marsh
State House District 6: Alberto Enriquez
Jackson County Commissioner: Terrie Martin
***Today’s Call To Action***
Secure the Election!
Vote for Equity!
November 3rd we can make the choice to change our country’s direction to improve our own lives, and those of friends, families, neighbors—equity for all Americans. We can choose to turn away from a president and vice-president intent on pushing an agenda that is racist, anti-women, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-worker. We can choose Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, who may be the most pro-equality ticket in our history. They and our representatives in Congress can pass legislation that will ensure every American’s rights are protected.
Joe Biden supports both the Equality Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act which are co-sponsored by Senator Harris. Both are being blocked by Grim Reaper Mitch McConnell.
The Equality Act ensures equal access to vital needs like medical care, housing, education, and employment regardless of sexual orientation or gender identification.
For every dollar that men are paid, women are paid 82 cents. Black women are paid 64 cents and Latinas 56 cents. The Paycheck Fairness Act addresses the misogyny and systemic racism of the wage gap.
Secure the Election!
Save the Post Office!
Pass Equality and Paycheck Fairness Acts!
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR U.S. SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS MERKLEY and WYDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
MERKLEY: We need Congress to work to repair the damage done by the racist, anti-women, and anti-LGBTQ agenda of the past four years. It’s time to pass legislation that will ensure the rights and protections of all of us. I want to thank the Senator for introducing the Equality Act in the Senate and co-sponsoring the Paycheck Fairness Act. We need a free and fair election to get them passed and signed. I am asking him to protect the USPS in order to safeguard mail-in ballots and to fight to secure the election against all forms of interference and voter suppression.
Thank you.”
WYDEN: We need Congress to work to repair the damage done by the racist, anti-women, and anti-LGBTQ agenda of the past four years. It’s time to pass legislation that will ensure the rights and protections of all of us. I want to thank the senator for co-sponsoring the Equality Act and Paycheck Fairness Acts in the Senate. We need a free and fair election to get them passed and signed. I am asking him to protect the USPS in order to safeguard mail-in ballots and to fight to secure the election against all forms of interference and voter suppression.
SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WALDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code].
We need Congress to work to repair the damage done by the racist, anti-women, and anti-LGBTQ agenda of the past four years. It’s time to pass legislation that will ensure the rights and protections of all of us. While I want to thank Greg Walden for voting for the Equality Act in the House, I am disappointed that he voted against the Paycheck Fairness Act. He must finally put country above party. He must support fair elections so that both Acts can be voted on and passed in the Senate and signed. I am asking him to protect the USPS in order to safeguard mail-in ballots and to fight to secure the election against all forms of interference and voter suppression.
Where’s Walden? History is watching; Greg’s legacy is at stake.
Thank you.”
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me
**ACTION THREE: BE AN ACTIVIST**
August 21, 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Ongoing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
#MyORHealth Support is available for Oregon’s “helpers”
Lines for Life has created a Virtual Wellness Room to offer support to helpers, mental health professionals, first responders, social workers and anyone considered an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon. Each check-in call will have a facilitator to guide the conversation.
“We at Lines for Life want to thank you for all the work you do to keep our communities safe,” the organization said. “We are offering a place for helpers to exchange stories of hope and areas of need. We especially want to hear what things are coming up for you personally and explore how we can cheer one another on to continue the good work you are already doing. We ultimately want to create space to breathe out stress and breathe in hope.”
The meetings are held using Zoom conference calls from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at this link: https://zoom.us/j/4848426773. Please share this invite with anyone in your network of Oregon helpers.
Ongoing Action: ORD2 Indivisible Virtual Postcard and Letter Writing Parties
Postcards to Voters:
Our postcard team is temporarily suspending the delivery of postcards to your door. However, the good news is that you will find everything you need to continue writing from home (including templates to print your own or purchase pre-printed cards) here: https://postcardstovoters.org
You can sign up through https://postcardstovoters.org/volunteer/
To avoid unnecessary trips to the post office, order stamps directly from the USPS:
https://store.usps.com/store/product/buy-stamps/coral-reefs-postcard-stamp-S_745104
…and voila, you’re ready to go! Send an e-mail to with any questions.
Letters to Voters
We encourage our team of volunteers to sign up with Swing Left to start writing letters to voters in 12 swing states. It is super easy to join. Check out their website, sign up, and let’s start writing! https://swingleft.org/
Send an e-mail to if you would like more information about how to get involved.
Virtual Letter-writing Parties
We encourage you to join virtual letter-writing parties hosted by Oregon Indivisible / Swing Left. The parties are held at noon every Saturday and on the last Tuesday of every month. Here are the links for the next two parties:
https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/267146/
**Visit the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar on a regular basis to keep updated on local activities. Participate with us as often as you can. We also encourage you to submit events to be added to the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar and help us keep current with our event postings. https://ord2indivisible.org/submit-your-event/