Since 2020, mail ballots have helped Nevada run safe and convenient elections by eliminating voting accessibility barriers. They also present an opportunity to civically engage and have a conversation about who you’re voting for and why.
Politics doesn’t have to be drab or inflammatory; it can actually be a party, and early voting on October 19 through November 1 is the perfect opportunity to throw one.
Invite your friends
The personal is the political, and it’s likely you’ve had conversations with your friends about topics like the economy, abortion, gun control, climate change, etc. Use that as a jumping-off point when looping friends into a celebratory voting party. Explain that Black Americans, women and Native Americans had to fight for their voting rights, and it’s a privilege that should be exercised and celebrated, rather than taken for granted. Also, make sure they’re registered to vote by October 22 at registertovote.nv.gov so they’ll be eligible to receive a mail ballot.
Set up the party space
Your kitchen table would most likely be the best space for carefully inking in those empty bubbles on mail ballots, but you can also provide clipboards and comfortable seating areas. A laptop or two could be useful for looking up information about candidates and ballot questions. Provide blue or black pens, and tea and coffee to help your party stay focused through the entirety of the ballot.
If you don’t have party space or time to set one up, consider throwing a virtual mail ballot party.
Share the research load
When you receive your mail ballot, you’ll see there’s a lot more to do than cast your vote for president. There are state offices, county commissioners, judges, Supreme Court Justices and ballot questions that need to be researched in order to make an informed decision. And as the saying goes, two minds—or 10—are greater than one. Use reliable news sources to look up candidates and information about ballot questions, and share that with the party in real time as you weigh whether you will be voting one way or the other.
Give them a proper sendoff
Do something special when dropping the mail ballots in the mailbox, like popping confetti and Champagne, or filming a dance for social media. Make sure the mail ballots make it to the mailbox by November 4 to be safe. (Mail ballots must be postmarked by the close of polls at 7 p.m. on November 5, so the earlier you can get it in, the better.) Once you’ve dropped your ballots, pat yourselves on the back for doing your civic duty.
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