We Need to Talk About The Election
A Gen-Z Guide to the American Elections
There’s an election coming up in the U.S., and it’s a big one. There’s a lot at stake and a lot to know. People are anxious and overwhelmed, and as a result, the circulation of misinformation on social media is increasing. The following is a guide to the upcoming election, particularly for young progressive voters, delving into everything from what’s on the ballot, to how to pursue true change.
Should Progressives Vote For Biden?
The Basics
The 2020 election is on November 3. Former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris head a Democratic campaign against the Republican presidential incumbent, Donald Trump, and Vice President Mike Pence. These four years of Trump presidency have been characterized by division, hate, and abuses of power. He was impeached in January and has been chased by scandal throughout his term. Liberals, progressives, and leftists widely recognize this, and are largely anxious to vote him out of office. However, many voters feel unenthusiastic about the democratic ticket this year, as Biden lacks a strong voter base, has a checkered history concerning racism and misogyny, and has campaigned on the idea of a return to the Obama-era, which many maintain does not indicate meaningful change.
Although Biden’s policies are far from the change we need, his positions are no doubt preferable to Trump’s. While criticism of our current and potential leaders is constructive, voting for a candidate is separate from endorsing their entire agenda. This website provides a breakdown of where Biden and Trump stand on issues that will be important during the time in which they may take office, from COVID-19 to climate change.
While the media and most voters are focused primarily on the presidential race, there are many other key issues to vote on this November. In California, some upcoming ballot propositions include enfranchising people convicted of felonies, eliminating cash bail, reinstating Affirmative Action, and allowing some 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections. There are also statewide and local races for various offices, including legislative and judicial positions. You can explore what will be on your ballot here.
Should Progressives Vote For Biden?
More and more young Americans are developing political identities that lie outside of the two party system. This election presents a challenging decision for voters whose politics fall further left than the Democratic platform, who see no true challenge to oppressive systems under Biden, who carries a history of upholding racist and misogynistic institutions, as well as sexual assault accusations. While Donald Trump is a terrible and dangerous leader, the choice we are given this year is in many ways an illusion; neither side represents progressiveness, neither is on the “left,” and neither represents justice for underserved minorities. I too am disillusioned with the idea of electoral politics during a time in which we can’t afford this mindset. We know that we won’t be voting for Trump, so the question becomes whether we should vote our conscience, or reluctantly vote within the two-party system that does not serve the marginalized and our allies.
The answer is not one-size-fits-all. To unpack this decision, let’s first look at what we know for certain: either Trump or Biden will win this election. There’s no way around it. The bottom line is, we cannot let Trump win. We can’t afford any actions that detract from Biden’s chance at victory. Electing Biden isn’t a solution, but it is harm reduction. Ignoring the people who would concretely suffer under another four years of Trump, who would be spared some of that suffering under Biden, is an act of privilege. It’s prioritizing personal idealism over the needs of oppressed peoples.
Civil rights activist and socialist scholar Angela Davis explained another Biden vs. Trump dilemma perfectly: “I don’t see this election as being about choosing a candidate who will be able to lead us in the right direction… It will be about choosing a candidate who can be most effectively pressured into allowing more space for the evolving anti-racist movement.” It may sound blunt, but it is practical: Joe Biden will cave to progressive constituents where Trump will not budge. This requires commitment on our part to put aggressive pressure on Biden before and throughout his prospective term.
That said, the solution is not a call to blindly vote blue. Electoral politics are much more complicated. The electoral college, not the popular vote, is ultimately responsible for the election’s outcome, and the electoral college operates on a winner-take-all system. Historically, we know that some states are safe bets — all of California’s electoral votes will go to Biden, and all of Texas’ will go to Trump, for example, because the other side just doesn’t have a shot at a majority. Other states are harder to determine, and tend to flip-flop each election. In these swing states, it’s crucial that all who oppose Trump get behind Biden in order to secure Democratic victory. In safely blue states, however, progressive voters can feel more liberated in their decision and have less to fear from voting third party, because the liberal majority has a strong grip on the vote regardless.
Many argue that voting third party is a waste of one’s vote. This is oversimplified. Given the way American politics operate, one could make a similar case for voting red in a blue state or vice versa. One could even argue that voting blue in a blue state is a waste. This is wrong for a number of reasons. Firstly, for those who are in safe states, voting third party is a way to send a message to elected leaders about whose interests they are representing and on whom their career depends. Voting third party is also not “a vote for Donald Trump,” though in some states it could contribute to his success if those voters would have otherwise supported Biden.
If a third party candidate receives 5% of the popular vote, that party is eligible for federal grants that could assist their agenda, even though they won’t win the presidency. In 2016 the Libertarian Party ticket acquired only 3.2% of the popular vote, which is higher than usual but still far from the required minimum for this funding. The Green Party, which is much more aligned with progressive policies, earned only 1% of the popular vote that year. No matter what decision voters make, it’s important to be informed about what our political landscape looks like and what the risks and rewards entail.
These discussions are ever-evolving, and I wish to stress the need to allow radical BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), working-class, and female-identifying thinkers to lead our discussions about what the appropriate course of action is. Those in privileged classes have no right to tell those who will be most impacted by this election about what is best for them. This means allowing BIPOC to determine for themselves whether they feel comfortable supporting a candidate who aligned himself with segregationists, allowing women to decide what to do now that they are given a choice between two sexual predators, and allowing all oppressed peoples the freedom that comes with respecting how their experiences create distinct realities in America. It is not the place of privileged voters to shame others’ choices simply because they do not understand them.
Voting During a Pandemic
Not only is this incredibly important election approaching, it’s approaching during a pandemic which has amplified existing socioeconomic disparities and left so many confused and scared. It is critically important that all Americans have the chance to vote, and vote safely.
To minimize the chance of community spread and to avoid catching COVID-19 themselves, voters should do their best to avoid situations that put them into contact with large groups. Luckily, many states have created modified vote-by-mail systems to accommodate those who feel most comfortable voting from home. For example, in California, Governor Gavin Newsom recently authorized a system in which every registered voter will be sent a mail-in ballot, which they can then fill out at home, submit through the postal service, or drop off at any in-person polling place. In other states, voters may have to request a mail ballot, but in many places where there were previously restrictions on who could vote by mail, these policies have been lifted. For information on each state’s availability of absentee voting, visit this page.
Republicans have repeatedly attacked vote-by-mail because it increases voter accessibility, and the more Americans who vote, the less of a chance Republicans have at winning the election. Concerns about an increase in voter fraud resulting from an increase in absentee voting are unfounded and suppressive. The only difference between “vote by mail” and “absentee voting” is that mail-in voting does not require an “excuse.” This system isn’t new. In San Diego County, for example, over 70% of voters use mail ballots, and that’s in a typical, pandemic-free election year.
Trump has taken conservative threats against mail voting to a new level by actively undermining the post office nearing an election in which an unprecedented number of Americans will rely on mail voting in order to stay safe from a deadly disease. He has stated that he believes mail-in voting is “rigg[ing]” the election, and indicated that he may not accept the results if he loses. This position is incredibly threatening and authoritarian. Early warning signs of fascism are rapidly increasing in the U.S. as the election approaches. Pointing this out is not intended to cause hysteria or contribute to sensationalism, but to bring important awareness to what may become a bigger issue in the near future. A part of that is paying close attention to what is happening to the post office.
Recently, a tweet went viral claiming that voters choosing to send in their ballots via USPS need to do so earlier than election day if they want their vote to count. This post is slightly misleading and has stoked unfounded anxieties. Local Registrars regularly issue a suggested mail-in date earlier than election day, but this doesn’t mean that your vote won’t be counted if you miss this date. However, because of the uncertain state of USPS due to Trump’s manipulation, it is better to be safe than sorry and mail in your ballot as early as possible. This also puts less strain on the post office and registrar of voters by decreasing the number of ballots that will need to be processed nearer to election day.
Voter Suppression
As the most diverse generations yet, Gen Z and Millennials face unique challenges to casting their ballots. Racial voter suppression is nothing new, and young people’s racial diversity makes us especially susceptible. We are also the most progressive generation yet, and Republican leaders are afraid of our power. Policies have popped up around the country that make it harder for young people to vote, in addition to existing barriers to the youth vote, such as the fact that we frequently experience housing insecurity, have less job flexibility, and aren’t guaranteed reliable civics education in schools. The New York Times recently wrote an article titled “The Student Vote is Surging. So Are Efforts to Suppress It,” that detailed intentional roadblocks to the youth vote. In Wisconsin, for example, the government rolled back a policy that previously allowed student IDs as valid documentation for voting.
As young people, it is our duty to show up this November no matter what roadblocks we face. That means staying up-to-date on local electoral policies, taking our time to educate ourselves both on the content of the ballot, and how to ensure our ballots are counted. It means showing up for those who are disenfranchised because of their age, race, criminal background, or class, and encouraging and empowering those around us to do the same. This year has been anything but easy, and winning the upcoming election will be just as difficult a task, but we have more power than most of us know. There’s too much at stake to take this lightly. Earlier this year, we took to the streets en masse to demand justice. Now it’s time to push those demands long-term, making whatever change we can within the system as well. Soon, we take to the polls.
Resources For Voter Information
vote.org
headcount.org
rockthevote.org
https://graphics.reuters.com/USA-ELECTION/POLICY/ygdpzwarjvw/
Your local Registrar of Voters
Sources
https://qz.com/829710/how-do-networks-call-the-election-before-all-the-votes-are-counted/
https://manchesterinklink.com/third-party-vote-not-waste-consider-fec-5-public-funding-factor/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/13/donald-trump-usps-post-office-election-funding
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/24/us/voting-college-suppression.html