Over the weekend Patrick and I filled out our mail-in ballots and dropped them off at a local drop box. As some of you know, I’m originally from Oregon, which is all mail-in voting, so I am extremely thankful it’s an established option here in California, while some states have scrambled to get mail-in going due to COVID-19. Dropping off our ballots seemed like a good excuse to wear a red, white, and blue ensemble.

Personally, I’m all for mail-in voting. You don’t have to take time off work to go vote, you literally get to vote at your connivence. You don’t have to travel to a polling site, which can be an issue for those without a car, with disabilities, and the elderly. You don’t have to stand in obscenely long lines. Plus there is evidence that shows  mail-in voting increases voter turnout, such as this article from NPR, and another from the Washington Post. Voting in America is far from perfect, but I believe in making voting easier, as well as abolishing the electoral college, so that the true voice of the American people can be heard. Some argue voting by mail isn’t secure, and decreases privacy, however, as previous elections have showcased, voting in person has its issues too (the hanging chad debacle of 2000, anyone?) and voting on a computer isn’t that secure either, as hacking a voting machine is so easy, literally children can do it.

I’ll leave you with some voting tips if you still haven’t voted!

Voting By Mail
– Make sure you fill out your ballot properly!
– Remember to fill out and sign the envelope.
-If you can, drop off your ballot, either at a designated drop box (found from either your voting guide or county website as fake drop boxes have cropped up) or at a polling location, instead of using USPS, as it has been having issues.

Voting In Person
-Check to see if your state allows for early voting, voting sooner can mean fewer crowds.
– If you can, take the day off.
– Wear a mask, and practice distancing at your voting site.
– If you can’t take the day, still make sure you give yourself plenty of time to vote, as lines could be long. Back in March some people waited four hours to vote.
– If the line is long, still wait in it and vote! Democracy is literally on the line right now.
– Request a paper ballot. Yes, you can do that! Once again, voting machines aren’t great!

Here is to a new dawn this November. Yes, this girl is ridin’ with Biden.

Outfit
Scarf: Belonged to my mother
Mask: Made by me, decorated with vintage 60s and 70s buttons found here and there
Blouse: Pinup Girl Clothing
Necklace & Ring: Junk 4 Joy, Burbank, California
Bangles: Here and there…
Jeans: Lee
Shoes: Jeffery Campbell by way of Buffalo Exchange