Well, friends, the important day is finally here. Election Day. Truthfully, I’ve been counting down the days for the last four years! Why? Because to say this is a crucial election is an understatement…
Did you vote early?? I voted a couple weeks ago and it was a powerful experience. When I voted in the primary back in March, the pandemic had just begun. Now, it’s seven months later. We’re still in the pandemic and 232K people have died from COVID. I voted for those 232K people who never got to see another election.
In 2020, there’s an overwhelming sense of urgency that we just can’t ignore. It’s incredibly palpable — we feel it and see it and guess what?? It should move us to action and to the voting booth even quicker; something has to change because our country, our democracy, can’t take four more years of what we’ve been living.
Remember that Biden Town Hall from a couple months ago? The former vice president was visibly angry at the state of this country and that was SO refreshing to see from a politician. With everything Trump has done, politicians on both sides of the aisle are still like “eh, what are you gonna do?”
We should be angry. All of us.
So you know what we’re going to do??? We’re going to VOTE because our lives and our futures depend on it.
I don’t know how to make this any more clear, but now is NOT the time for third-party or write-in votes. We can’t afford a repeat of 2016. The only statement your “protest vote” makes is one about your privilege.
Make no mistake: A third-party vote IS a vote for Trump.
Period. Full stop.
Reminder that you can’t vote for Trump and still say you care about disabled people like me. I’m not just voting for myself. I’m voting on behalf of all disabled people. I’m voting for the future that I want to see in my lifetime — a future where disabled people are accepted and inclusion isn’t an after-thought, where our full personhood is recognized.
Voting is an enormous responsibility and I’ve never taken that lightly. Our world feels so out of control right now, but voting is one thing we all can do to take back some of that control. We all have a say in our future!
SPEAK UP
BE COUNTED
VOTE
I talk about politics a lot because the personal is political.
As a disabled woman, I’m excited to be voting for Joe Biden. Disabled people deserve a president who doesn’t mock them, but instead will fight for their human rights and dignity.
That shouldn’t be too much to ask.
President Biden and Vice President Harris: Coming to an America near you in 2021. Are you READY??? xoxo
P.S. Earlier today, I chatted LIVE on Facebook with Senator Bob Casey from Pennsylvania!! We talked about why this Election Day is so critical for people with disabilities. You can watch the video here.
[Top photo from Joe Biden official site]
Behind The Blog: That Girl In The Wheelchair
My Life With A Disability: Viewer Discretion Advised.
Sarah Silverman on Depression
Krysten Quiles says
Well you probably already know that I have been GLUED to the results since yesterday. I find it pretty damn ridiculous that it’s as close as it is, which tells me we have A LOT of cleaning up to do.
shelly sitzer says
Very exciting election, Melissa! We shall see what happens next!
Tammy Castleberry says
Well said! 👏🏻👏🏻
IMO, the last 4 years has brought out and even created more division in our country. The President of all people should not be doing that. It amazes me how easily his “followers” actually believe everything that he says. He spews lies constantly and even when shown facts to disprove his lies, he and his followers refuse to believe the facts. I don’t understand that.
I was hoping there would’ve been an obvious choice that Biden/Harris had won, especially with the circumstances.
I don’t understand the 3rd party voters. I can understand that you may not like either candidate, but in reality you it will only go to a Rep or Dem. So just pick the one you most align with. The more you don’t vote for either candidate it just makes things worse…so much worse. I’ve been following the election and to see how many people voted for other candidates just makes me think that they are living in a bubble.
martha says
Bravo! Always well said, as usual. great interview too, thank you for all you do. I am happy to see you are getting some recognition too. Stay strong and take care