#ElectBroadly Newsletter (02.26.20)
In 2016, only ~28.5% of eligible voters participated in the primary elections. This means that about 9% of Americans, total, selected the 2016 presidential candidates.
When it comes to elections, though, we don't just have a civic engagement problem; we also have a sexism problem. Three decades after "The Year Of The Woman," double standards still endure, as noted by Politico founding editor John Harris. But, as Avery Blank outlines, there are three ways that you can combat this persistent problem:
Recognize that women can win (Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren are the only two presidential candidates who have never lost an election);
Get over the discomfort of not seeing a man in the White House (if equality was the law of the land, then the odds of only having male presidents for the last 200+ years would be 1 in 36 trillion);
Vote.
Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada voters have already had a chance to weigh in on who they want their 2020 nominee to be. South Carolina voters have a chance to make their votes and voices heard this Saturday, February 29. Next Tuesday, March 3 is Super Tuesday - the day on which 14 states will hold primary elections and allow their voters to make their choice.
If you are a resident of Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, or Virginia - now is your time! Early voting is already underway in some Super Tuesday states.
Voting is a key pillar of democracy. It's a precious right and a privilege. Voting is also how we disrupt government-as-usual and ensure our progress as a country and a society.
We envision a government where women and people of color are equally represented. We can get there if we all vote. Join us in being an #ElectBroadly voter, and let's change the face of our government together.