This week: vote, rally, canvass, phone bank and protect
Things continue to escalate and violence continues to be the theme as we get closer to the midterm elections. First, Trump attended not one, but multiple rallies where he suggested that Iran could take out Los Angeles and San Diego, California. In typical Trump fashion, he oscillated between insisting that his administration would protect all American cities and in the next breath appeared to double down that Iran could hit cities like San Diego and Los Angeles because the route of a missile is convenient. Whatever his true beliefs, volunteering up American cities to be bombed is sick and twisted and any sane person would not even think to joke about something so horrific.
But this is coming from an administration that would like to join the likes of Afghanistan and Iran by livestreaming the public execution of Nidal Hasan, the man who fatally shot 13 unarmed soldiers at the Fort Hood military base in 2009. This would be the first public execution in the United States in almost a century and is completely unprecedented in the modern era. The United Nations called out the United States on this plan as abhorrent and accounts to torture. And yet, this hardly comes as a surprise when you consider this administration and their appetite for violence and revenge.
What’s also not a surprise is how tightly this president continues to be embraced by Ohio’s Republican politicians. Since our last newsletter, Trump has visited our state twice to promote Jon Husted and Vivek Ramaswamy - who need all the help they can get, as both are trailing in the polls.
Early voting is now open. Casting your ballot early helps avoid unforeseen complications that may interfere with your ability to vote on Election Day. Also, campaigns can track who has voted, and voting early helps ease the pressure on final Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts to connect with people who haven’t voted yet.
Speaking of GOTV, you can help by volunteering to knock on doors on behalf of candidates who reject the imperial presidency and its sycophants. Talking politics with strangers may seem daunting, but it’s not as bad as it may sound! More often than not, no one will answer the door, and you simply drop off campaign literature and move on. If someone answers, your conversation won’t last more than a few minutes. You won’t have to worry about long, drawn-out arguments with Trump supporters; protocol in these situations is to simply thank them for their time and walk away. And it feels good to connect (however briefly) with people who share our values regarding how to run our country. Plus, the walking is good exercise. Current weather forecasts sunny days next week, so this is a good time to get in the game.
This week's actions are separated into the following categories - Vote, Rally, Canvass, Phone Bank and Protect. Choose the action(s) that most resonate with you!
Action List
Attend the Fight for Ohio Rally with President Obama in Cleveland (Oct. 24 @ 1 p.m.)
Canvass with Working Families Party and Indivisible NEO (Oct. 17 @ 1 p.m.)
Talk to your neighbors about Sherrod Brown and the upcoming election
Phone bank for Sherrod Brown, Brian Poindexter and Don Leonard (Oct. 22 @ 5:30 p.m.)
Save the date for one last phone bank on election eve (Nov. 2 @ 5:30 p.m.)
VOTE
Vote early
Early in person voting has begun and Indivisible is encouraging us to cast our ballots before election day. The schedule is sporadic so make sure to confirm before you head out to vote. Early voting happens at your County Board of Elections office. See below for hours at each location. You can click the "View sample ballot" below to download your county's ballot. Check out and bookmark this nonpartisan voter guide from Innovation Ohio and start to plan your vote.
Oct. 12 to 16: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Oct. 19 to 23: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Oct. 24: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Oct. 26: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 27: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Oct. 28 to 30: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 31: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Nov. 1: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Cuyahoga County Board of Elections
1803 Superior Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114
Lake County Board of Elections
105 Main St Ste 107, Painesville, OH 44077
Geauga County Board of Elections
12611 Ravenwood Dr., Chardon, OH 44024
Summit County Board of Elections
1050 E. Tallmadge Ave., Akron, Ohio 44310
And while you’re at it, tell 5 friends about voting early on social. Click here to share.
Important dates:
Oct. 27: Last day to request an absentee ballot. Do not wait until then if you plan to vote absentee as the mail can be slow. You can also call your county board of elections and request that an absentee ballot application be mailed to you.
November 1: Last day to early vote
November 3 by 7:30 pm: Deadline to return your mail-in ballot. May also be dropped off in person at your county Board of Elections
Questions about voting?
Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!
RALLY
Attend a No Kings event this Saturday
This Saturday is the next national day of action. Families across the country are struggling to afford groceries, gas, electric bills and the everyday cost of getting by. The decisions made by those in power shape our lives, our communities, and our future. No Kings: Vote Early is the next step of reclaiming our power after a year of mass mobilizations. It's a day of nonpartisan voter participation, being in community with each other, and making sure every eligible voter has a plan, knows their options, and is ready to make their voice count.
Attend the Fight for Ohio Rally with President Obama in Cleveland!
Join President Barack Obama, Sherrod Brown and Amy Acton as we fire up Ohio voters and kick the final stretch of the 2026 election into high gear.
On Saturday, Oct. 24, we’ll be in the heart of Early Vote with just 10 days until Election Day. And with so much on the line, we need Ohioans across the state to make their voices heard. Join us, get fired up, make your plan to vote, and help us turn out Ohio!
This event will be in the afternoon and exact timing will be announced closer to the 24th. The location will be announced 24 hours before the event.
CANVASS
Canvass with Working Families Party and Indivisible NEO
The Working Families Party stands with candidates who are done waiting for the working class of this country to get its fair share. Join us as we knock on doors for Brian Poindexter of OH-7 and Annette Blackwell for Ohio State Auditor every weekend through Election Day. No experience is needed and training will be provided. Bring a fully charged phone, your favorite shoes and a friend!
Talk to your neighbors about Sherrod Brown and the upcoming election
Face-to-face conversations with voters are proven to be one of the most powerful tools we have for turning out progressives—and Neighbor2Neighbor makes it easier than ever. Sign up and they'll send you a list of 10 progressive-leaning neighbors, a short conversation script, best practices for successful door knocking, and an optional printout to leave if no one's home. Then you simply knock on doors whenever it's convenient for you—no rigid schedules or complicated training required. These are your neighbors, and they share your values, so these conversations should feel natural and friendly.
Canvass with the Ohio Democrats
The Ohio Dems have dozens of canvassing opportunities all over the area from now until election day. They are flexible on times and dates. Search Ohio Wins on Mobilize to find an event near you.
Get involved with Ground Truth
Ground Truth is an innovative canvassing program from Swing Left that's helping Democrats win back power by reimagining the nature of voter conversations.
Ground Truth is completely volunteer led - you'll use their app to get your canvassing routes and record the details of your conversations.
To learn more, attend an upcoming 30 minute introductory training.
PHONE BANK
Phone bank with Indivisible for Sherrod Brown, Brian Poindexter and Don Leonard with OH Phone Bank Series
Join Indivisible as we engage voters across the country to get out the vote and take back Congress in 2026. We’ll make calls into Ohio to get people to the polls on or before Nov 3rd and share the exciting reasons to support Sherrod Brown for U.S. Senate, and U.S. Congressional candidates Brian Poindexter (OH-07) and Don Leonard (OH-15) to represent them in DC!
An in-depth phone bank training will be included at the beginning of each phone bank, so first-time phone bankers will learn everything they need to know.
Join Indivisible coast-to-coast the night before the election for one final phone bank
Save the date for Nov. 2! One day left to make a difference before election day! Join Indivisible as we engage voters from coast to coast to get out the vote and take back Congress in 2026. We'll make calls to get people to the polls on election day and share the exciting reasons to support Indivisible National's endorsed candidates. The event takes place from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Stay the whole time, or pop in, make a few calls and pop out.
PROTECT
Election protection roles and resources
Looking to get involved with this election? Here you can find every available volunteer role, what is involves, how much time it takes and how to sign up. Read through each one carefully and choose the role that fits your skills, your schedule and your commitment level. Every single role matters, and together we will make sure that Ohio's voters decide on Nov. 3rd is exactly what gets certified.
Learn to be a Poll Observer
Are you committed to being a poll observer or looking for more information about the role? Come to our Poll Observer Training to meet the Voter Access team and get all the details on the role, responsibilities, and time commitment of poll observers.
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2:00pm–3:00pm
Thursday, Oct. 22, 6:00pm–7:00pm
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2:00pm–3:00pm
Monday, Oct. 26, 6:00pm–7:00pm
Vote Safe Protection Program
Voting is a fundamental right for all Americans. Save America Movement is running Vote Safe, a voter protection program for Black, Latino Asian and other BIPOC voters in Cleveland to counter the voter suppression impact of potential federal intimidation at the polls (ICE, FBI, etc.) Election Day. They are training volunteers to stand shoulder to shoulder with their friends, neighbors and community outside the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections during early voting.
These volunteers will serve as a visible, supportive presence, ensuring every voter can cast their ballot safely and without fear of federal intimidation. They are specifically looking for folks who can do a two-hour shift on the weekend! Orientation and training provided. You'll work alongside experienced advocates who understand both the stakes and the tactics.