The election is just one week away. At Change Consulting, we are busier than ever, not just making sure our clients have the support they need to communicate about their critical work during a hectic time, but also in doing our part to ensure that election results are on time and reflect the needs and the priorities of the communities we care about.

We rounded up some voting resources to help you prepare for the election, fill out your ballot — and maybe just inspire you  — and are sharing what our team members’ voting plans are ahead of next week.

Change Consulting VOTES:

Dina Sigal, Senior Communications Manager: 


Shea Tatum Walsh, Change Consulting voting inspiration.

In addition to volunteering to be a poll worker, my partner and I researched the local measures and state propositions for hours by using multiple voter guides and sources (a big thanks to many of our clients for putting these together). We then took our 15 month-old son to turn in our ballots because you are never too young to make your voice heard.

Nesima Aberra, Senior Communications Manager, Digital Media Specialist: 

I requested an absentee ballot and voted by mail, so I could avoid lines and large crowds on Election Day. I’ve voted by mail for years when I first moved out of Arizona but this is the first time I’m doing it while still at home. I took some time to research my candidates and local propositions in Virginia using my local news voter’s guide before filling out my ballot. Voting by mail is not as exciting as going in person, but I’m happy I still got an “I voted” sticker that I can enjoy while relaxing on November 3.

Layla Crater, Senior Communications Manager: 

I spent a lot of time with KQED’s voter guide and on the Berkeleyside website (support local media!) for down ballot information. I am so grateful for the opportunity to vote and am holding those who are not afforded that right, or who have been unjustly disenfranchised, in my thoughts. So I have also been donating to campaigns and GOTV efforts in other places across the U.S. As for November 3, I will be outside and out of service as much as possible to avoid doom scrolling.

Bilen Mesfin Packwood, Founder and CEO: 

We are closing down Change Consulting for election day so our team can focus on their voting plans. This election is so important, not only because of the monumentally critical choice at the top of the ballot but also because of the important down ballot initiatives here in California – racial justice is on the ballot. My in person plan is to go in person on Tuesday to vote, putting to use all the information we have from our clients.

Anna Ghosh, Communications Director, Strategy:

Voting this year was a family affair at the Ghosh household. My 9-year-old daughter helped me sift through my six-page ballot and together we researched each candidate and proposition. For the proposition, we always started with the “how it got on the ballot” description to understand the motives of the proposition and whether it’s intended to benefit most of us or just corporations and the wealthy few.

We referred to multiple voters guides, including the San Francisco Pissed Off Voter Guide, and the SURJ Voter Guide. I phone banked for the Yes on Prop 15 campaign and the Poor People’s Campaign to reach voters in Arizona and Nevada, and donated and asked my friends to donate to the campaign to help pay the fines and fees of formerly incarcerated Floridians, who won back their right to vote in the 2018 midterm, but the state continues to lock these folks out of participating in democracy because of money. We need everyone’s voice in this election, especially those who have systematically been shut out.

Dulce Lopez, Communications Manager, Visual communications:

This election, I decided to vote early by mail with an absentee ballot. The voting guides by local organizations and CalMatter’s propositions summary helped me make a more informed decision. I also reached out to undocumented friends and binational coalitions to learn how each election outcome will impact them nationally and internationally. In the meantime, I will look for ways to go beyond voting and continue fighting towards justice for everyone.

Voting Resources from Our Network:

Power California Voting Resources: A  one stop resource to walk you through all the necessary steps of voting in the November 3 election.

PowerCA Action Voting Guide: Resources and endorsements that represent how young people are voting on California’s ballot propositions.

YWFC Voter’s Guide for Formerly Incarcerated Folks & First Time Voters: A voter’s guide to help formerly incarcerated individuals and young people voting for the first time understand who can vote in the state of California, how to register to vote, how to be an informed voter and how your vote influences local, state and federal elections.

East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation Endorsements: In addition on resources on how to cast your ballot ahead of, or on, November 3, EBALDC shares endorsements of key down ballot measures.

AAPI CEF: Based on the belief that “art has the ability to bring people together and to empathize with one another,” AAPI Civic Engagement Fund commissioned 13 AAPI artists to create digital art pieces to encourage the AAPI community to turn out for this election cycle.

The Million Voters Project: An alliance of 7 community-driven state and regional networks working to strengthen and expand democracy, Million Voters Project’s goal is to transform the California Electorate by mobilizing one million new and infrequent voters to the polls around an agenda of equity and inclusion. Learn more about their work at millionvotersproject.org.

California Donor Table knows that voting in California can be hard. The statewide community of donors, who help progressive donors make informed, strategic funding decisions so that California legislators reflect and represent their constituents, curated this list of voter guides to help California voters make their own informed decisions:

Regional

Statewide