Chop Wood, Carry North Carolina 2/18

Hi, all!

Hope you’re all hanging in there—I know it’s tough right now. I find I do better when I’m in action, so I thought you, too, might like some stuff to do!

Here we go, courtesy of my state partner Marilyn Hartman!

Advocacy

• Protect Justice Allison Rigg’s 2024 win for NC Supreme Court by fighting back against the challenge of 65,000 votes by her Republican opponent, Jefferson Griffin. The state Board of Election and a NC District Court have already rejected the challenges, but the case is being appealed to higher courts that are more likely to be partisan. THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE! If Griffin succeeds, future elections in every state are threatened.

  • For information and actions anyone can take (there are five of them!), go to the Common Cause NC website. Click here.

  • Join a phone bank with the NC Democratic Party to the voters on Griffin’s list, to make sure people know their votes have been challenged and what they can do about it. Upcoming events are 2/20 and 2/22, or every Tuesday with the Durham County Dems. Click here to sign up.

  • If you live in the Triangle, sign up with the NC Democratic Party to knock on doors of challenged voters in Fuquay-Varina (Wake County). Sign up here for 2/21 or 2/22.

• For folks in the Triangle area, make sure the state legislature (General Assembly) knows we're watching. Sign up to pack the NC General Assembly Gallery in Raleigh on Wed 2/26 at noon. Sign up here.

• And for something fun! Attend the "Disenfranchised Disco," a gathering on the evening of 2/28 to celebrate the voices of 60,000 voters in North Carolina whose rights have been challenged. “Dance, plan, rejuvenate, make friends, and make a difference, while connecting with fellow advocates, individuals and organizations, sharing stories, and empowering each other to stand and dance! for justice. Together, we will ensure that every vote counts!” It’s free! Sign up here.

Engaging Voters

• Phone bank or canvass with the Durham County Democrats. Not all NC county Democratic Parties are out there engaging with voters, but Durham's is and you can help out in person or virtually with the phone banks! We’re going door to door to organize unorganized precincts and inviting volunteers by phone to attend their first precinct meeting of the year. Check out opportunities on their calendar and sign up here.

• Phone bank or canvass with Neighbors On Call/County To County. Reach out to constituents of some of the Democratic state legislators we helped elect. Phone bank for Rep. Bryan Cohn & Sen. Terence Everitt on 3/6. Canvass for the same on 3/8 or for Rep. Dante Pittman on 3/12. Sign up here.

• Phone bank with Democracy NC, a state-based nonpartisan voting rights group. They hold monthly phone banks to talk to NC voters. The next ones are 2/24 and 3/24, at 6 pm.

Voter Registration

• It’s not too early to start registering voters for the next election. You Can Vote is a nonpartisan statewide organization that provides absolutely the best training around. On 2/18 at 5:30 pm join a webinar to learn about their 2025 strategy and how to plug in. Training and vote registration events will follow.

• In Durham you can register voters with the Durham Democratic Party every Saturday at the Farmer’s Market. Click here to sign up (slots are limited!). If outside of Durham, check with your own county Democratic Party website to see where else voter registration is kicking into gear.

• Another option: Join the League of Women Voters and find out where they are registering voters near you.

More Ways to Plug In

• Learn about a great grassroots organization as it prepares for local outreach across North Carolina. Neighbors On Call/County To County (now one organization!) is dedicated to turning the NC General Assembly blue. This powerhouse organization has many devoted volunteers (like you!) who canvass, phone bank and more. Join them for their online kickoff on 2/27. Sign up here.

• Learn about All in for NC, a program of Massachusetts-based Swing Blue Alliance, This is another great organization to know about. They are holding a forum on 2/24 at 4 pm where you can meet some of the leaders in North Carolina who have the know-how and cutting edge communications tools to reach and cultivate voters. These groups are working separately and together to amplify our movement's voices and messages in the state. Sign up here.

• Help Voters obtain a Photo ID. Support disenfranchised voters by helping them get photo IDs. Having a photo ID not only gives people access to the polls but makes it possible to get housing, jobs, bank accounts, and more. It’s life-changing! Learn more about the work of VoteRiders, the only nationwide organization that provides free one on one assistance in obtaining a state-issued photo ID. They have a physical presence in Charlotte but also provide virtual assistance to any voter anywhere. Volunteer and commit as little as an hour per month. The next training sessions is 3/18.

• To get your own up-to-date action alerts for advocacy and action, I recommend subscribing to email updates from several of the following organizations: Down Home NC, Common Cause North Carolina, Carolina Federation, and Indivisible groups in NC (e.g., Bull City Indivisible, Indivisible Charlotte, and others).

OK, all, that’s it for now. Sending hugs and hope for a better tomorrow—which comes, of course, from our actions today.

Jess