CAMPUS HIGHLIGHT - George Washington University
DM at George Washington University has found creative ways to inspire large numbers of students to vote. The urgency of voting was DM's main message to the 400+ GW students they registered to vote, and to the more than 1,500 who attended major DM-sponsored events with CIA whistle-blower John Kirakou, Representative Jamie Raskin, and Nico Agosta of the Public Integrity Project.
Every Democracy Matters chapter is laser-focused on increasing student turnout in the November, organizing with classroom announcements, door knocking, social media blasts, marches to the polls, and candidate information flyers.
https://www.democracymatters.org/action-campaigns
HANDS OFF OUR VOTE - Create a Fair Election
Keep this election safe by:
Fighting Disinformation - Spread truth!
Voting as Early as Possible - Short lines!
Election Protection Hot Line - 866 our vote (866 687 8683)
Bringing a Buddy to Vote - Reach out to encourage everyone to vote!
Getting the free election protection “Hands Off Our Vote" toolkit.
This election is safe only:
After every vote is counted...AND
After all the results are honored...AND
After the new Congress is officially seated.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH - Mailed Ballots
“In a major win for voting rights, election integrity, and democracy, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from enforcing a rule that would have significantly restricted mail voting and disenfranchised voters relying on mail ballots."
The Brennan Center for Justice's comment on Trump’s plan to sabotage mail voting. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/us-supreme-court-blocks-postal-service-restricting-mail-ballots
IDEAS OF THE MONTH - Your Vote Is Your Voice For Change!
Halloween Action on Friday Oct 30; Monday Nov 1.
Organizing with Halloween themes will motivate, remind, inspire, and increase student voting.
Table in costume with candy, handouts with Halloween messages, and a "VOTE" tri-fold.
Place funny Halloween voting quarter cards on classroom seats and dining room tables.
Get Out The Vote (GOTV) on Tuesday Nov. 3.
Celebrate Election Day - Make it feel like a holiday.
Create multiple ways to remind students to vote!
March to the Polls
Chalk your Campus
Write on Classroom blackboards/whiteboards
Make classroom announcements (and ask faculty to do so as well).
JUSTICE ON MY MIND - POLITICAL EQUALITY, BIG DONORS & THE COURTS
This month, Mandle argues that Donald Trump’s damaging agenda is empowered not so much by grassroots populists as by the huge financial donations from the country’s biggest right-wing donors. Supeme Court decisions have enabled this explosion of big money in politics.
Mandle suggests that the ultra-rich could be prevented from dominating elections and political discourse with public financing grants that would enable others to run for office and disseminate alternative policies and ideas.
See the full article at:
https://www.democracymatters.org/political-equality-big-donors-the-courtsnew-page
FACTS YOU CAN USE - Youth Voting Turnout
Nearly 50 million young people are eligible to vote in the 2026 midterms—a major potential force in shaping electoral outcomes and the future of our democracy. But sadly, youth vote at significantly lower rates than older adults. In the most recent midterm election, only 31.3 percent college students cast ballots.
Complex registration and election rules, long lines, and distant polling sites have always been discouraging barriers for young people. But for this election, it's even worse. The Trump administration has acted to make it significantly more difficult to vote. The series of attacks on voting, mail ballots, and universities has intimidated many potential voters. But by especially targeting young people, it has sought to keep away from the polls, a group that is largely expected to support Democrats on November 3rd.