SPEAK OUT SENIORS

Feel Good Action 

The impact of social media influence on voters—especially young voters—will be a critical factor in the upcoming midterms. Feel Good Action’s randomized control trials on voter impact in Virginia and Pennsylvania are yielding exciting results.  

To learn more, join the group's Zoom briefing on Thursday, June 18 from 12:00 - 1:00 PM. You will hear their plans to scale up their work ahead of the midterms.

If you have questions or wish to register for the online event, send your full address, email and mobile phone number to:  Gunther@feelgoodaction.org

Focus For Democracy  

Promotes strengthening our democracy with impactful donations. They conduct rigorous, metrics-based research to recommend highly effective programs, where donations will have the greatest impact per dollar. For more info:  https://www.focus4democracy.org

The organization’s virtual events focus on their recommended programs. The next event is on Tuesday, June 23. Registration is required:  email team@focus4democracy.org or complete this form. After you register, you will receive a Zoom link via email for the event. 

Note: the organization is a referral-only network. You may use Helen Neuborne, Catherine Milton, or SpeakOutSeniors.org as your referral source. 

Mind the GAP Webinars (MTG) 

MTG does not have a public-facing website. To get their information send an email to info@mtg.org. MTG will send you an invitation to register a login and password on their "members" site, where this information is made available.

The simplest way to gain authorization to view the members' site or attend an MTG Webinar, go to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfas2uQXJp0mB8bUkx8xVpK3n5dgXjTP784mC2xuVRtZVrDDg/viewform. Enter your email and say the Vi recommended you. It shortcuts some steps you'd need to take if you simply email info@mtg.org.

Voter Participation Center

The Voter Participation Center is an established non-partisan organization that focuses on registering voters around the country. They have been in action for 23 years and claim to have registered over 6 million voters during that time. Many of these voters are from segments of the population that require help and encouragement to vote. 

Because it is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, donations are tax-deductible. For more information, see their website at https://www.voterparticipation.org.

Early financial support is far more impactful than last-minute donations. Funds given now allow campaigns to hire top staff before they're claimed by other races, build infrastructure, and launch voter outreach. 

Strong early fundraising also signals viability: candidates who report substantial funds by the FEC's June quarterly deadline earn credibility with major donors, party committees, and the media. Recurring donations are especially valuable, giving campaigns the predictable income needed to budget and plan effectively. 

And when fall arrives, advertising costs skyrocket as every campaign floods the market at once — meaning early money buys the same exposure at a fraction of the price, while late donations often arrive too late to matter. Supporting our most promising candidates now, rather than waiting until October, is simply the smartest use of your contribution 

NOTE: Please go to the Donate page to see organizations (Feel Good, Focus for Democracy, and Mind the Gap) you can support rather than individual campaigns. If you prefer to donate to individual campaigns, go to the Candidates page.

On Feb. 3, the Brennan Center for Justice published an announcement here about "The Bad Voting Bill that Refuses to Die”. 

IIt alerts us to oppose passage of the SAVE Act, which would stop millions of eligible Americans from voting. You may recall that last year the House narrowly passed legislation that would effectively require Americans to produce a passport or a birth certificate to register to vote. The bill stalled in the Senate following a chorus of alarm from across the country, but has returned, revamped…and worse.

Brennan Center research shows that at least 21 million voters lack ready access to the documents required in the bill. Roughly half of Americans don’t even have a passport. Millions lack access to a paper copy of their birth certificate. Many more voters have names that are different from those on their passports or birth certificates, including married women who have changed their last names. 

Plainly, it would be the most restrictive voting bill ever passed by Congress. This amped-up version of last year’s bill would prohibit universal voting by mail, bar states from counting ballots received after Election Day, and require states to conduct voter purges in a way that would kick many eligible citizens off the rolls.

While passage in the Senate appears unlikely, it will be up to Democrats to hold their ground and ensure the SAVE Act’s ultimate defeat. It will be up to all of us to not be fooled by the myths and the lies — and to protect our elections so they remain free and fair. We should also stand with election officials who now face threats of groundless criminal prosecution for doing their jobs.  

So please call your Senators and Congressperson to express your opposition to the SAVE act. 

Message 

As your constituent, I urge you to oppose the SAVE Act. Studies show that requiring Americans to produce documents like a passport or birth certificate to register to vote would block millions of eligible U.S. citizens from voting.

Federal and state laws already make clear that only American citizens can vote in elections. And the National Voter Registration Act requires citizens registering to vote to confirm their citizenship status. The SAVE Act would merely disenfranchise the more than 21 million Americans who don’t have documents like a passport or birth certificate readily available.

We should be protecting the freedom to vote, not restricting it. Please reject this anti-voter bill.

Thank you,

[First Name] [Last Name]

• Adam Schiff, U.S. Senate CA (Democrat) - (202) 224-3841
• Alex Padilla, U.S. Senate CA (Democrat) - (202) 224-3553 or (415) 981-9369 (San Francisco)
• Sam Liccardo, U.S. Congressman (Democrat, CA 16th district) - (202) 225-8104,