#Every Vote Counts

[textless]

Two sides of the same sign (which is mine). Cochise County, Arizona, October 2024.

[justyourlocalplaguedoctor]

Everybody, I am begging you, vote blue. I have not felt such primal fear that every time I think about it I have to sit down so as not to throw up. I have never been one to experience anxiety like this, and certainly not in such an extreme that I am reduced to curling up on the floor and trying to ride out the pain it causes.

This election is important. It is terrifying. I have worked so hard to find myself, to give myself the body that I want, to get myself the care that I want, and to help my fellow queers in their journeys as well.

I do not want to be forced to detransition. I do not want to hide who I am. I do not want to live in fear, and for my friends and for my family to live in fear. You have power. Do not throw it away, do not underestimate it. Do not lie down and accept defeat. How can you win if you do not fight?

Get. Out. And. Vote.

[its-a-hare-pom-pom]

I posted about how people need to vote especially now that Trump has been shot and that I’m British and care about this and it made some person mad and they told me not to talk about it as a Brit.

So.

I’m gonna talk about it a lot more :)

I don’t have to be American to not want yet another fascist country. I don’t have to be American to fear for people’s lives and wellbeing. Trump being the president may not affect me directly but it will indirectly seeing all of my American mutuals and people on the news suffering, losing rights, and being oppressed. Please, if you are able, vote.

[coochiequeens]

Ladies, vote for yourself and those denied the right

Dhurnal (Pakistan) (AFP) – Perched on her traditional charpai bed, Naeem Kausir says she would like to vote in Pakistan's upcoming election -- if only the men in her family would let her.

Issued on: 05/02/2024 - 08:41

In  the village of Dhurnal in Punjab, spread across crop fields and home to several thousand people, men profess myriad reasons why women should not be allowed to vote © Farooq NAEEM / AFP

Like all the women in her town, the 60-year-old former headmistress and her seven daughters -- six already university educated -- are forbidden from voting by their male elders.

"Whether by her husband, father, son or brother, a woman is forced. She lacks the autonomy to make decisions independently," said Kausir, covered in a veil in the courtyard of her home.

"These men lack the courage to grant women their rights," the widow told AFP.

Although voting is a constitutional right for all adults in Pakistan, some rural areas in the socially conservative country are still ruled by a patriarchal system of male village elders who wield significant influence in their communities.

In the village of Dhurnal in Punjab, spread across crop fields and home to several thousand people, men profess myriad reasons for the ban of more than 50 years.

"Several years ago, during a period of low literacy rates, a council chairman decreed that if men went out to vote, and women followed suit, who would manage the household and childcare responsibilities?" said Malik Muhammad, a member of the village council.

"This disruption, just for one vote, was deemed unnecessary," he concluded.

Robina Kausir, a healthcare worker, talks to AFP in Dhurnal of Punjab province, ahead of the upcoming general election © Farooq NAEEM / AFP

Muhammad Aslam, a shopkeeper, claims it is to protect women from "local hostilities" about politics, including a distant occasion that few seem to remember in the village when an argument broke out at a polling station.

Others told AFP it was simply down to "tradition".

First Muslim woman leader

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has stressed that it has the authority to declare the process null and void in any constituency where women are barred from participating.

In reality, progress has been slow outside of cities and in areas that operate under tribal norms, with millions of women still missing from the electoral rolls.

Muhammad Aslam, a shopkeeper, claims a ban on women voting is to protect them from "local hostilities" about politics © Farooq NAEEM / AFP

The elders in Dhurnal rely on neighbouring villages to fill a government-imposed quota which maintains that 10 percent of votes cast in every constituency must be by women.

Those who are allowed to vote are often pressured to pick a candidate of a male relative's choice.

In the mountainous region of Kohistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province home to almost 800,000 people, religious clerics last month decreed it un-Islamic for women to take part in electoral campaigns.

Although voting is a constitutional right for all adults in Pakistan, some rural areas in the socially conservative country are still ruled by a patriarchal system of male village elders who wield significant influence in their communities © Farooq NAEEM / AFP

Fatima Tu Zara Butt, a legal expert and a women's rights activist, said women are allowed to vote in Islam, but that religion is often exploited or misunderstood in Pakistan.

"Regardless of their level of education or financial stability, women in Pakistan can only make decisions with the 'support' of the men around them," she said.

Pakistan famously elected the world's first Muslim woman leader in 1988 -- Benazir Bhutto, who introduced policies that boosted education and access to money for women, and fought against religious extremism after military dictator Zia ul-Haq had introduced a new era of Islamisation that rolled back women's rights.

However, more than 30 years later, only 355 women are competing for national assembly seats in Thursday's election, compared to 6,094 men, the election commission has said.

Pakistan reserves 60 of the 342 National Assembly seats for women and 10 for religious minorities in the Muslim-majority country, but political parties rarely allow women to contest outside of this quota.

Those who do stand often do so only with the backing of male relatives who are already established in local politics.

"I have never seen any independent candidates contesting elections on their own," Zara Butt added.

'Everyone's right'

Forty-year-old Robina Kausir, a healthcare worker, said a growing number of women in Dhurnal want to exercise their right to vote but they fear backlash from the community if they do -- particularly the looming threat of divorce, a matter of great shame in Pakistani culture.

She credits part of the shift to access to information as a result of the rising use of smartphones and social media.

"These men instil fear in their women – many threaten their wives," she told AFP.

Robina, backed by her husband, is one of the few prepared to take the risk.

When cricketing legend Imran Khan swept to power in the 2018 election, Robina arranged for a minibus to take women to the local polling station.

Only a handful joined her, but she still marked it as a success and will do the same on Thursday's election.

"I was abused but I do not care, I will keep fighting for everyone's right to vote," Robina said.

[election2024-2028]

Project 2025: Basics

What is Project 2025? Who wrote it? And who is it intended to help? And who is this going to hurt?

Let's get into it. First, what is Project 2025, and who wrote it? Project 2025, also known as the Presidential Transition Project is a project started by the Heritage Foundation for the transition from Biden to Trump. Of course, that is their assuming that former (and failed) president Trump is going to become president again. I believe most people hope that no such thing will happen. If all goes well, we will have President Kamala Harris come January of 2025. The Heritage Foundation and about 200 other people grouped together to create a book called Mandate for Leadership: A Conservative Promise. Kind of sounds like a weird dystopian novel, doesn't it? But, no, it's worse than a dystopia. This is a real book written by the ultra-conservative group called the Heritage Foundation and a large number of other far-right people, including lawyers for firms that boast about arguing against equity and inclusion laws, economists who believe in getting rich instead of protecting the environment, people with no organization to speak of, well-known conspiracy theorists, and politicians. The Heritage Foundation calls this collection of people "experts", but you can tell from their organizations that they are mainly a group of extremely biased conservatives.

This book is intended as a starting point for Donald Trump if he gets back into the White House. It is "by conservatives, for conservatives." This basically means that this is meant for extremist conservatives or Trump cultists, conservatives who believe:

Gay marriage should be illegal.

Abortion should be completely banned.

We need nuclear families only.

Queer history shouldn't be taught.

Children aren't allowed to be trans.

Interracial marriage should be banned.

Liberals aren't real Americans.

Immigrants shouldn't be allowed into the country without having to jump through extreme hurtles.

Illegal immigrants should be in internment camps*.

Conservatives are the only real Americans.

Trump is the best person to have as president.

Joe Biden is evil and has completely mismanaged the country.

Equity is wrong.

Inclusion is wrong.

DEI is a bad thing.

Gay marriage is sinful.

Racial inequity and racism shouldn't be talked about in school.

Books about queer people should be banned.

Feminism is a bad thing.

The men should be in control of the heterosexual home (which should be the only kind of home).

Families without fathers are severely damaging to the children, no matter the other circumstances.

Guns should be completely legal, no matter the kind of gun or any other details.

Trans people are inherently inappropriate.

Children shouldn't be exposed to LGBTQ people.

Drag is inherently sexual.

Trans women are dangerous.

Gender and sex are the same thing.

Gender and sex are binary.

People can't change their gender.

In other words, this is for homophobic, transphobic, racist, "Christian" misogynistic gunnies who are on the far right.

And who does this hurt? This hurts many people, of all different politics and beliefs. Chances are, it hurts you or someone you care about. This project affects this (non-exhaustive) list of people:

LGBTQ people

Women

Trans men

Trans people in general

People in communities with high risk of violence

BIPOC people

Single parents

Interracial couples

Liberals

People who do drag

Accepting parents of trans children

Fatherless families

Immigrants

Feminists

Who or what else might be harmed by this project?

The environment

Relationships with other countries

Freedom of speech

Schools

Diversity and equity

Remember: This isn't an exhaustive list. This is only part of the people who could be hurt by this project.

I know it is possible that someone may point out to me that Trump has denied being involved with Project 2025. Therefore, I believe it is necessary that I point out that Agenda 47, which Trump is for sure involved with is very close to, if not the same as Project 2025, just with a different name.

*Internment camp basically means a concentration camp. That's what they want. Concentration camps for "illegal" immigrants. This is like what happened to Japanese Americans during World War II. *

Conclusion

Be aware of who you're voting for this election. This blog will contain more details about the 2024 election. Chances are you know at least a few people who are close to you who would be affected by Project 2025 policies if Donald Trump becomes president, and I hope you care enough about them to want to protect them from gun violence, forced pregnancy, forced submission, prison sentences, censorship, and a dead Earth.

I know it's hard to believe that your vote could mean anything when it seems like Trump is going to win. Maybe you think that your vote doesn't count, but I assure you that the only way that you will protect your and your loved ones' rights is to vote. Please vote.

[thebluestockingfirefly]

Y'all, if you're in the United States and eligible to vote, check your voter registration status. Every single vote is vitally important, and it only takes about a minute to confirm.

https://www.usa.gov/confirm-voter-registration

If you're 18 or will be 18 by Election Day (Tuesday, November 5, 2024) and you haven't registered to vote - go register! Now!

Don't disappoint Phryne and Cimorene. They'd vote if they could.

[afusionoffandoms]

For your enjoyment.

[rosielindy]

I’ve been shouting into the void that was once Twitter trying to get attention from National Dems for Indiana. A couple of my recent posts here for reference and Jaime Harrison’s post about Indiana candidates today. It could easily be a coincidence but I’m counting it as a win either way. 💗💗💗💗

[dinosaurwithablog]

I've known a lot of people who are now being called "illegals". Most of these people are good people who, for some reason, couldn't get into our country through the proper channels. These good people were desperate to have a better life so they did what they had to do to come to America and get that life for themselves and their family. They wanted things that we take for granted here. They wanted refrigeration, indoor plumbing, a good education for their children or themselves, and of course, freedom and the opportunity to work hard and provide a better life for themselves and their family. Most of these good people work harder than the majority of people who are here, and these people are praying to be able to call themselves Americans one day. That would make them very proud. How can a political party act as if these good people are bad. How can a political party turn their back on these good, hard working, appreciative people. No people are illegal. They are people. They deserve a chance to work hard and get the better life that we take for granted. Vote BLUE. Protect all people's rights. Protect people. Do the right thing and vote BLUE today. Please. People's lives are counting on you. Please, don't let them down. Stand up for all people and vote BLUE today!!

[tomorrowusa]

Yep, your vote does count. A new example from our northern neighbors.

British Columbia held provincial elections on October 19th. It has, like Canada's federal government, a system of government similar to that of the UK.

A party must win a majority of seats in the British Columbia Legislative Assembly to form a government in the province.

So eight days after the election, the incumbent New Democratic Party (NDP) has won or is leading in 46 seats, the Conservative Party has won or is leading in 45, and the Green Party has won 2 seats. 47 seats are needed for a majority in the 93 seat chamber.

So there are two ridings (Canadian for legislative districts) where recounts are taking place on Sunday and Monday. One of them is Surrey-Guildford. The incumbent NDP member is currently down by just 12 votes.

So if Garry Begg picks up just 13 votes in the recount and counting of absentee ballots, he will win the riding and the NDP will continue in power in British Columbia.

So share this with the vote slackers in your life.

[weirdstrangeandawful]

Whilst we wait for final counts in BC, Canada, another reminder to any American on the fence about voting that Every Single Vote Counts.

Any one district could drastically change the outcome of this election. And that could come down to 12 votes.

[lgbtally4ever]

Democratic Voters:

DO NOT drop the ball THIS TIME or it, really, might be the last time!

[470nanometers]

Good polls, bad polls.

Ignore them all, go and vote.

[konzenkoryuu]

"He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good."

"He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers."

"He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries."

"He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation"

"He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers . . . whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions."

Who did you think I was talking about here? Who was the first person that came to mind on reading that? I was revisiting the actual Declaration of Independence for America's birthday...a document some 248 years old, and several of the crimes we charged King George with sound suspiciously familiar to a current former president, just changing a word here and there to match modern times.

This came to mind today when I was watching the musical 1776. Granted, it is historical fiction. However, as I was watching, the dissenters for American Independence were sounding familiar, and it finally occurred to me that people who were against American Independence were saying the same things then that the modern Republican party is now. And if your modern, 2024 political party sounds like the slightly fictionalized version of people who were against American Independence...

I will leave you with the song that Richard Nixon wanted cut from the musical because he thought it would give Republicans a bad name. And I will leave you with one last quote from the Declaration:

"A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people."

[beautifulsweetschaos]

If you live in the UK please please please go out and vote today 🗳️🙏🏻 it’s extremely important and will literally take less than a minute 🗳️ exercise your democratic right to vote and let your voice be heard ✨

Also: make sure to bring your photo ID 🗳️

[hammyham-o-o]

hey everyone, little break in the scheduled shitposting for a little public service announcement:

----------GO VOTE----------

If you are of voting age in the U.S,

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE

VOTE!!!

Your voice matters!!!!!!

Vote for your future, your family's future, your friends' future, your children's future. Vote for democracy. Vote to be on the right side of history. The time is NOW

ok that will be all thank you