321ACTION: October 7, 2024
Today marks one year since the brutal attacks by Hamas terrorists on civilians in Israel, targeting young music lovers at the Nova Festival and families in their homes on kibbutzim. Hamas committed numerous atrocities, including sexual violence as a weapon of war, and kidnapped hundreds of civilians, tearing apart families and communities.
We will join communities across the world in observing a minute of silence at 12:10 PM ET in remembrance of those who were murdered, in support of those still being held hostage, and in solidarity with those who survived but whose lives were forever changed.
You can access additional resources for 10/7 on our I Believe Israeli Women page.
During the 28 days remaining until Election Day (November 5), this newsletter will focus on voting and the issues at stake in 2024's national and local elections. We will not tell you for whom to vote — that is a decision that each individual must make for themselves. Instead, we will explore the basics of voting and specific policy issues we encourage voters to consider when choosing a candidate.
Additional voting and policu information can be found at JWI’s Vote Like Our Rights Depend On It project.
Ready to make a difference?
Here are three ways to get started:
3. Register to vote!
The sooner you check your voter registration status, the better. Some states periodically purge voter rolls, and sometimes they make mistakes.
Vote.gov is a great, trustworthy resource that can help you check your voter registration status, register to vote, or update your registration through your state. Some states have registration deadlines well before Election Day, so we encourage you to check your registration now!
Depending on your state, there may be many different ways to vote and different requirements to be able to cast your ballot. In some states, everyone can request an absentee ballot, vote early in-person, or vote in-person on Election Day.
In other states, access to absentee ballots and early voting is limited. In some states, you must register to vote far in advance, and in other states, you can register the day-of. Some states require photo IDs to vote, and others don’t. And in states with photo ID requirements, not all forms of ID count. It is important to understand voting requirements in your state.
NOTE: American citizens who live abroad can also vote. If you are an American who lives abroad, learn more about voting here.
2. Make a Plan to Vote
Once you know you are registered to vote and your registration is up-to-date, make sure you have a voting plan.
If your state allows you to vote by absentee ballot and you plan to vote that way, make sure you meet the criteria and submit the ballot request form. If you are voting in-person, make sure you know what documentation you need to bring to the polls to prove your identity (this varies by state). You can check your state’s voter ID laws here.
If you are going to vote in-person (early or on Election Day), make sure you know where your polling station is. You can find that information here. Depending on where you live, it might also be on your voter registration card. Figure out how you are going to get to your polling station, and if you need to take time off work to vote, don’t forget to tell your employer.
1. Research *All* of the Candidates Running
Remember that this election is about so much more than who will become the next president. High-profile federal races most often make the news, but local and state officials will often have the most direct impact on your daily life.
We will be providing more information in the coming weeks, but it's a good time to start researching all of the candidates who are running for elected office in your area.
+ In case you missed it...
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Use JWI’s DVAM toolkit to educate your community about domestic violence.
Shanah tovah, and may the new year bring joy, peace, security, and prosperity.