Wilks Newsbeat, Election Addition, I voted sticker

In this issue...

Voting resources (Digital Voting Guide & Guide to 2020 Election)
Voting FAQ
Win a Starbucks gift card!
How to contact your representatives
Post-election day tips and resources
Inspire Action

Still need to vote?
If you are registered to vote in Ohio, Saturday (at noon) is the last day to request an absentee ballot. Or you could vote early at your county’s Board of Elections or at your assigned precinct on Election Day. Don’t forget your photo ID and proof of address when you vote in person. On-campus students can generate a proof of address letter to present (printed or digital) at the polls from the Registrar and Dean of Students.

Digital Voting Guide
Exercise your right to vote!

This digital voting kit is meant to provide you with any information you may need before heading to the polling place. Before going to vote, it's important to make your plan. This guide will take you step-by-step through forming your voting plan so you can be as ready as you should be to get to the ballot!

Your Guide to the 2020 General Election

Educate yourself and exercise your right to vote

The 2020 general election cycle so far has definitely been unique--from expected higher volumes of absentee ballots to safety & health concerns, this year has made it easy to let important information about the election slip our minds. This guide is meant to provide you with information on the candidates & issues you will be faced with at your polling place. Use this as a starting place to further educate yourself about the candidates & issues you will be asked to vote for--and remember, it is important to be an engaged & educated voter!

Voting FAQ

Where can I get stamps so I can mail my ballot ASAP?

You can pick up a free stamp for your absentee ballot at the Armstrong welcome center desk (while they last). Or you could purchase stamps at the Shriver Mail & Package Center, the Oxford post office, or some stores (e.g. Kroger or Walmart).

Where do I drop off my mail-in ballot to be returned?

Before Monday, 11/2, you can drop it off in one of the blue mailboxes. Your ballot must be postmarked by 11/2, so if you are sending on Monday, it’s best to go to the post office and actually get it postmarked there. You may also return your ballot in person by driving it to Butler County Board of elections and dropping it off by 7:30 pm on 11/3.

How can students in quarantine or isolation get their absentee ballot?

Students in quarantine or isolation can have a friend or someone from the res life staff pick it up from the Mail & Package Center, and then drop it off through contactless delivery at your quarantine or isolation hall.

My absentee ballot hasn’t arrived at school - can I vote in person instead?

Yes! If you have not received your ballot you may vote early at the Board of Elections and they will suspend your mail in ballot. If you want to vote on November 3rd, you will have to cast a provisional ballot. You must vote at your assigned polling location or Board of Elections. If your ballot never arrives or doesn’t arrive on time, please call your local board of elections to alert them of this issue.

When should we drop off our absentee ballot so it gets where it needs to go on time?

You must drop off your absentee ballot at your Board of Elections by 7:30 pm on Election Day Nov.3.

If I got my absentee ballot from another county, can I still drop it off in Hamilton?

No, you must drop it off or mail it to your county’s Board of Election where you are registered. For example, if you are registered in Franklin County, you must drop it off at the Franklin County Board of Elections.

How do I know if I’m registered to vote in Oxford?

To check your voter registration go to www.vote.org and check your registration status by entering in the address where you believe you are registered.

Where is the polling place on campus?

Millett Hall this year! But verify your polling place at vote.org - not all Miami students in Oxford will vote at Millett!

Sign the Voting Pledge and Enter to Win a Starbuck Giftcard

Get out the vote!

Use the template on the @RedhawksCount on Instagram story to share your pledge to vote and be entered to win a raffle for one of two $15 gift cards! Winners will be announced November 3rd.

Follow @RedHawksCount on Instagram and The Hub

Redhawks Count is dedicated to civic engagement and nonpartisan action on campus and is associated with the Wilks Leadership Institute and the Andrew Goodman Foundation Ambassadors.
Redhawks Count provides opportunities to increase voter engagement, pushes for nonpartisan collaboration, and creates community projects that expand student’s understanding of their rights. We strive to unite partners in the Oxford and Miami community in order to work towards promoting civics on Miami’s campus.

Follow to Receive Election Updates

Tips for Coping with Election Stress

During the 24/7 political news cycle

Set boundaries: limit discussions with others if the discussions cause you distress
Practice “value-based” living: reflect on what is important to you. Is helping others important for you? In addition to focusing on political change, try small actions, like sending a letter to a neighbor or starting a "pay it forward" movement in the coffee line
Take a break from social media
Limit your news consumption: Have a set time, and amount of time, that you consume news each day. Stick to that limit!

With Election-Related Distress

Limit media exposure, including social media
Don’t discuss politics with those who will escalate the conversation to higher levels of conflict
Channel election related stress into local community and civic activities and volunteerism
Remember that life goes on after the election process is finished. There will always be opportunities to make your voice heard
Be sure to vote. Exercise your sphere of influence by casting your vote

When consuming news regarding the election ask yourself two questions:

Is this article helpful to me?
Does this article reflect my own truth?

Support for Students

Here are a few resources Miami is offering over the next few weeks to help:

Q&A: Student Life has partnered with student leaders and faculty from Political Science and the Menard Family Center for Democracy to answer your voting and election-related questions on Instagram throughout the election season
Counseling: The Student Counseling Service has expanded Campus Care, quadrupling the number of sessions available for students in the weeks following the election.
Nonpartisan Dialogue & Listening: The Wilks Institute is coordinating Election Dialogue & Listening sessions to help students talk about and process election events. Look for these sessions before and after the election through the Student Life Instagram.

Activism

Activism is an important part of a democratic society. If you or your group is looking for tips on how to become more civically active and have questions, email The Wilks Institute at wilksleadership@miamioh.edu to receive a copy of our (draft) Activism Guide. For starters check out the tips below:

Know What You Want

Focus on your vision for what you want to change. Examine the root causes of the issue and consider how they can be addressed in your solution. Make sure you are fighting for a specific change, not just taking a stand against something. This will help prevent burnout and propel conversations forward (Wright 2020). If you are working with others, be willing to adapt and incorporate their ideas. This will turn your vision into a collective vision that more people will engage with (Wright, 2020).

Know Who Can Change It

When asking for things to change, it’s important to know who has influence over those changes. These individuals are the intended audience for your message. Knowing the stakeholders of a situation will help shape your vision, message, and course of action.

Be Intentional With Action

Whatever action you take, whether it be protests, marches, or emails, they should all be connected to a larger strategy. Not everyone can participate in the same way, so have multiple ways people can participate! This can range from tabling, organizing, providing supplies, etc. Also, leave room to grow with your action. That way, if you are not seeing the results you want, the next step can be more attention getting than the last.

Questions to consider:

What is the best way to interact with the targets of your message?
If you want to host a physical event, what location would be significant to the target of your message?
Who should be at the table?
If the initial target(s) ignored your message, who has influence over them?
How can you get more people involved?

How to Contact Your Representatives

By Sarah Carrier

Make a list of issues and bills you care about:
Research your issues, and decide what you want to advocate for. Most members of congress have assistants who listen to phone calls from constituents, and make a list of what people call in support about. They then share it with their congress member once a week or so.

Decide what politicians you should focus on:
It could be your three members of congress: Two Senators and One Representative. Or it could be your local and state politicians.

Contact your chosen politicians:
Email and call your politicians in support of key bills regarding your issue. Their office numbers and email addresses can be found on their websites.

Lobby:
You do not have to be in politics to schedule meetings with Representatives. Most congress member’s websites have a link to send a meeting request. If you send in a request, more often than not a member of their staff will reach out and talk to you.

Mobilize:
Organize a group of 5 friends or more to all email your chosen politician at once in support of your issue/ bill. The more people who reach out, the more they are willing to listen.

Utilize Social Media:
Tweet at your chosen politician or tag them in stories regarding your issue.

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