On Friday’s I talk about politics on my blog. And this week it’s been tumultuous. Trump’s administration is seeking to change the definition of gender to only male and female, which eliminates those who are transgender, a rollback of Obama era definitions. And another step against transgender people, when Trump decided that trans people could not be in the military. Then, bombs were sent in the mail to a multiple democratic politicians. It’s terrifying that bombs were sent to politicians in the mail. And there was a bomb scare at the CNN offices in New York. It’s not easy to know that the city you live in is a target! It has also come to light that Trump doesn’t use a secure cell phone line and apparently the Chinese have been listening in. These are the times we are living in and it’s overwhelming.
Despite my weekly summary above, you can see that my post is actually about resources for this election. So, let’s break it down. You know it’s better take sides, and you know why this midterm election is so important. So where are your resources for determining how to vote? Google it!!
Here are some resources I found from some quick Google searching. Do not be afraid to start your search.
Ballot Ready
If you choose one website to help you navigate your ballot, let it be this. Enter your address and you can create a ballot based on what you will see on Election Day. In my district, we are voting for Governor, Senate, and House of Represenatatives, but we’re also voting for state senate and some additional ballot measures. This website has all the info I need to help break down what is going on. Email is not required, but you can email the ballot to yourself if you choose. https://www.ballotready.org/
WNYC Voter Guide
This site is for the New York State elections, and has a similar format to Ballot Ready. The major difference is that you have to enter your email to use it, while Ballot Ready does not require it. https://elections.wnyc.org/voter-guide
Vote Save America
This website gives a state by state breakdown of what to expect on November 6th, but also answers questions about voter registration and status before looking at a sample ballot. No email sign up is necessary. https://votesaveamerica.com/states
How To Vote In Every State
How to Vote in Every State is a video resource. You can watch the video for your state to make sure you are registered and resources for what you can do on election day (or beforehand) to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Can Voters Ask for Provisional Ballots?
A lot of information has been going around about voter purges and people being kicked off the voter registration lists. If this happens, you can request a provisional ballot on election day. Do not be afraid to vote. Do not let them take that right away.
Mark your calendars for November 6 and make a plan to vote!!
Heather Allen 
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