This November, we have the opportunity to reshape the political landscape in Florida for a generation.
Every single statewide office is up for grabs. How you and your friends vote on Nov. 2 will help decide races that at the moment are way too close to call.
The most important items on the ballot are Fair Districts Amendments 5 and 6 that will stop politicians from drawing districts to ensure their re-election without regard for the rights of voters. Amendments 5 and 6 must pass if there is hope to bring balance and accountability to elections in our state.
Voter rolls are public documents, and they show who has voted and who has not. Studies show one out of four people who don’t vote are actually afraid they might do something wrong. There’s an easy hotline that provides answers to every question you may have about how, when and where to vote. No question is too small. Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.
With so much on the line for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, Equality Florida has prepared this brief summary of five important things you can do to help ensure our victories for equality continue.
Register to Vote by Oct. 4
Don’t let your voice be silenced on Election Day, Nov. 2. Be sure you are registered to vote at your current address. If you’ve moved recently, you’ll need to update your voter registration. The cutoff for registering to vote in Florida is 29 days before the election, that’s Oct. 4th for the upcoming General Election. Download your voter registration form today!
Equality Begins with Fair Districts: Vote “Yes” on Amendments 5 and 6
We are winning the public education battle on every issue. Strong and rapidly growing majorities of voters support LGBT equality, including fair adoption laws, full non-discrimination protections, anti-bullying policies and legal protections for our families. The lone exception is marriage, but even there the number are shifting rapidly in our direction. Today 42% of Floridians now support marriage equality, and nationwide we’ve passed the halfway point: 52% of American believe in full marriage rights for gay couples. Clear majorities support civil unions and domestic partnership protections.
But this support has not translated into results in Tallahassee because the balance of power in our capital is decided before the first vote is cast.
Every ten years, the party in power gets to redraw voting districts. Lawmakers essentially rig the election by using software to select the “perfect demographic mix” often resulting in preposterously drawn district boundaries. Instead of voters electing their representatives, we have incumbents selecting their voters. Vote “Yes” on Amendments 5 and 6.
Get Your Equality Voter’s Guide
Nearly everything we fight for depends on electing fair-minded politicians. Over the past 13 years, Equality Florida has built the largest voter file ever assembled to mobilize the LGBT vote in Florida—over 600,000 pro-equality voters. Every election cycle we screen thousands of candidates on where they stand on pro-equality issues such as marriage equality, fair adoption laws, passing workplace equality laws, safe schools, and more. We compile those responses and distribute hundreds of thousands of voters guides to ensure our community and our allies are informed and turn out to vote.
Additionally, Equality Florida Action PAC works to elect LGBT candidates and fair-minded politicians who champion LGBT equality. Sign up and we’ll send you your personalized Voter’s Guide and our list of endorsed candidates ahead of Election Day.
Make Your Candidate Contributions Go Farther: The Council of 1000
In a state as large as Florida, it can be hard for individual donors to know about game-changing, strategic races on the other end of the state where a relatively small number of donations could be the difference between an historic victory for equality or another win for an anti-gay politician.
To join the Council of 1000, commit to giving at least $1,000 directly to candidates who stand for equality. Members of The Council of 1000 receive a strategic analysis of the races letting you know where your donation could make the most impact.
So far Equality Florida supporters have committed to donate more than $100,000 directly to pro-equality candidates.
Vote November 2, and Make Sure Your Friends Do, Too.
It’s easy and everyone is doing it. Get five friends who wouldn’t vote otherwise. Remember, Craig Lowe won the mayor’s race in Gainesville by just 42 votes despite being the target of ugly anti-gay attacks. Every vote matters. Turnout will be high.
Early voting begins 15 days before an election and ends two days before an election. Early voting is offered in the main or branch offices of the Supervisor of Elections. Contact your Supervisor of Elections for dates, times and locations in your country.
This is a moment to catapult Florida forward as a welcoming and inclusive place to live work and visit. But, if we stay home on Election Day… we’re in for several more years of attacks on our jobs and families. VOTE!
Nadine Smith is the executive director of Equality Florida. Visit www.eqflpac.org for more information on pro-equality and anti-equality candidates.
