2000 + 2016 = 2020

Vote. Vote. Vote.

Attendees at a Bernie Sanders rally posing for a selfie on March 1, 2020, in San Jose, Calif. Photo by Sara Bloomberg.

Attendees at a Bernie Sanders rally posing for a selfie on March 1, 2020, in San Jose, Calif. Photo by Sara Bloomberg.

A year ago if you had asked me what I thought would happen this November, I was fairly confident that Trump would most likely win reelection by riding on a slew of factors: momentum, incumbent advantage, party unity, Electoral College advantages and continued efforts at voter suppression. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. And while the rest of the world scrambled to assemble coherent national strategies, Trump “played it down” and the CDC was elbowed out as an authoritative, trustworthy global public health leader.  

Some lifelong Republican leaders have abandoned Trump, though his base is sticking with him and ready to “stand by,” preparing themselves for a self-fulfilling prophecy of election chaos. 

Polls are leaning in Biden’s favor, but as we learned in 2016, small odds are still odds. Trump could reprise 2016 by losing the popular vote and winning a narrow Electoral College victory. Or, as he has already called for, the Supreme Court could decide like it did in 2000.

November 3 is two weeks away. Vote. Vote. Vote. If you’re voting by mail, return your ballot early. If you’re voting in person, go early.

Four years ago, I was working as a stringer for the AP on election night in San Francisco. When I wasn’t calling in local election results, I was checking CNN and the NYT on my phone for national results. My heart sank when I saw the trackers abruptly swing the other way. Sometime after midnight, I hopped on my bike and peddled silently down Market Street towards my little studio in SoMa, holding back tears and nauseousness. This year, I think it’s safe to say that we’re all more mentally prepared for whatever might happen next. 

But what happens next is up to YOU. It doesn’t end with voting. But it’s a start. 

Here’s a list of resources, both national and for California. If you’re looking for guides in another state, or have additional guides to suggest, let me know.

RESOURCES

NATIONAL

Ballot Ready — election info and voter guides by state, including local ballots an interactive sample ballot where you can save and share your choices: https://www.ballotready.org/ec

California and Bay Area