Labor 2023 - Week 4

September 25 - September 30, 2023

Week 4 - This week, a few labor union volunteers  hit the pavement, and with all the work we need to do, we want your help to increase our volunteer numbers!  No matter the number though, we showed up and showed out to knock doors on Saturday, and that was just the icing on the cake to our weekly turnout for phone bank shifts and volunteers knocking during the week! 

It can only be up from here!

**Special thank you to IBEW 666 in Central, USW 8888 in Eastern, and UBC 197 in NOVA for sponsoring this week's Saturday walks! 

As we continue to work each week, between the phones and doors, union members across the Commonwealth have been sharing with us their concerns for this election season and their plan to vote. This has been great conversation and so helpful with strategizing on how to communicate with them and explain what our union-endorsed candidates can do to help alleviate their concerns. 

All in all, we are working hard, but we are now almost a month a way from Election Day -- Virginians can early vote (in some localities on Sunday(s)) and they can register to vote on Election Day as well -- that being said, we need more hands on deck to make things shake out in favor or working people this election because there is so much to do and so little time! 

Help us recruit some more union members to help in the efforts of Labor 2023. Be sure to check out our calendar page to sign up for our virtual phone banks, canvass launches, and more held in your area throughout the week! 

Check out our upcoming events and photos from the week! 

Upcoming Events

• Wednesday: Virtual Phone Bank  - Register here

• Saturday: Labor 2023 Canvass Launch - RSVP here **Note: You MUST RSVP to attend the Saturday outdoor walk launches. 

REMINDER: Same Day Voter Registration In Virginia

September 27, 2023

Last election cycle, we gave you a small brief on the new law / piece of legislation that was passed during the 2020 General Assembly session, that outlined for Virginia, beginning on October 1, 2022, voting eligible citizens will be able to register to vote on Election day and cast their ballot on the same day. 

As a reminder, we wanted to provide some FAQs about same day voter registration that we have answers to: 

• Is same day registration new in Virginia?

  • Yes. Beginning with the 2022 General Election, the General Assembly approved
    legislation that provides the ability to register at any time, up to and including
    Election Day.

• How is this different from how registration has previously worked?

  • Previously, registration was closed for the 21 days before an election; there was
    no ability to register to vote after this deadline. The new law allows registration,
    with limitations, during the 21-day period before an election.

• What is a provisional ballot?

  • Provisional ballots are used by voters who do not appear on the list of registered
    voters at their polling location. Provisional ballots are not processed by a vote
    counting machine at the time of voting, but rather are subject to approval by the local electoral board prior to the ballot being counted. 

• What happens to my provisional ballot after I vote?

  • The general registrar’s office for your locality will research your ballot to gather
    evidence about whether you are qualified and eligible to vote. The general
    registrar’s office will forward your ballot and the information gathered to the
    electoral board to review and approve or deny your ballot.

• How will I know if my provisional ballot is counted?

  • After you vote, you will be given a notice with the date, time, and place where the local electoral board will make a decision regarding your provisional ballot. You are entitled to attend this meeting, but you are not required to attend in order for your ballot to be counted. If your registration application is approved and there are no other issues, your ballot will be counted. If your ballot is not counted, you will receive written notice from your general registrar.

• Who can same day register?

  • Any person qualified to register to vote is eligible. However, if you are already
    registered in a different locality and seeking to update your registration, you may be eligible to cast a non-provisional ballot, rather than the provisional ballot used for same day registration. Your general registrar or officer of election at your polling place can provide further information about eligibility.

• When can I same day register?

  • Same day registration and voting with a provisional ballot can be utilized after the October 17 deadline to register to vote a non-provisional ballot.

• Where do I same day register?

  • You may same day register at the office of your general registrar or satellite
    location during the early voting period. On Election Day, you must go to the
    polling place for the precinct in which you reside.

• How do I find my polling place?

  • You can find this information by contacting the office of the general registrar for the locality in which you reside. You can find information about your general registrar’s office on the Department of Elections’ website at https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation/PublicContactLookup.

Check out more info on same day voter registration on the Virginia Department of Elections website by clicking here or visit: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/registration/same-day-voter-registration/ 

Labor 2023 - Week 3

September 18 - 23, 2023

Week 3 came in with a bang! This week tropical storm Ophelia rocked the eastern side of the United States and we send our love, prayers, thoughts, and support to those effected by the storm. Here in Virgnia, we also saw some residual effects of Ophelia with lots of rain, power outages, and heavy winds. And although we had a rainy day plan in place for all zones, labor activists didn't let it stop them from talking to union members about the election -- post card writers, phone bankers, and door knockers turned up all week to make sure union members were being heard and that they were being educated on the upcoming election .

**Special thank you to CWA 2201 in Central for sponsoring this week's Saturday walk!

This week too, the entire state is feeling it -- it being the election season. Early voting started this Friday, and people are heading out to the polls. 

Every week we are out doing what we can do on the phones and doors...and post cards too, but we have to communicate even more to our members. They want  to hear from us, and one important way to make sure they do hear from their union is through local union mail. So, if your local hasn't sent mail just yet, it's not too late. It is actually the perfect time to do it. Get yourself some flyers from the working family toolkit (not sure how? check out our video tutorial) and download one of our sample letters from the toolkit as well and get it out to your members. An educated member, is a voting member, and that's what we need this election to ensure that we are protecting our rights, that our voices are heard, and that we gain and maintain our pro-labor General Assembly members. 

If you've sent a mail piece or two already, thank you! And as a tip, get your next mailing together now, and be sure to talk about early voting and include some info on top issues across the state. 

We are down to just 6 weeks before the election, and if you haven't seen polling, just know, things are close! The union voter turnout is going to make all the difference in this election. Working families have endured so much in the past few years during the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic hardships, and more, but together, we have to show up at the ballot box. November 7th is coming, and we need all the help we can get.

Help us recruit some more union members to help in the efforts of Labor 2023. Be sure to check out our calendar page to sign up for our virtual phone banks, canvass launches, and more held in your area throughout the week! 

REMINDER: You can request your ballot or vote early in person this year right now. Learn all the details on early vote and getting registered/updating your registration and more on our Voting Info page.  Be sure to review and share the important dates and details needed to cast a ballot this election. 

Check out our upcoming events and photos from the week! 

Upcoming Events

• Wednesday: Virtual Phone Bank  - Register here

• Saturday: Labor 2023 Canvass Launch - RSVP here **Note: You MUST RSVP to attend the Saturday outdoor walk launches.  

**NOTE: Eastern Zone Canvass Launch for 9/30 will be held at USW 8888 hall in Newport News at 4306 Huntington Ave, Newport News, VA 23607. 

Labor 2023 - Week 2

September 11 - 16, 2023

Second week is down in the books! This week we made more calls and knocked even more doors!

**Special thank you to our Saturday walk sponsors - UA 10 in Central  and NOVA Labor Federation in NOVA!  

At our Saturday walks, union activists came together to talk to other union members about the election, and this week proved to be the week of our well-seasoned union activists on the doors, and they had a blast while they knocked until they couldn't knock anymore.

This election season, Virginia is at a pivotal point where with each week we come closer and closer to putting pro-labor, working family friendly candidates in office to ensure that we protect our union and working family rights. The issues of today, could be resolved with every union member's vote casted this November. This is why we will continue to talk to our members and more importantly, listen to what they care about when it comes to daily life and who they will vote for.  

Speaking of voting...We are gearing up for early vote, which begins next week, Friday, September 22nd. Be sure to let your union members and family and friends know all about how to early vote by checking out our info page. 

The election cycle is moving forward, and we need your help! 

Help us recruit some more union members to help in the efforts of Labor 2023. Be sure to check out our calendar page to sign up for our virtual phone banks, canvass launches, and more held in your area throughout the week! 

REMINDER: Early voting starts on Friday, September 22, 2023. Request your ballot or vote early in person this year. Learn all the details on early vote and getting registered/updating your registration and more on our Voting Info page.

Check out our upcoming events and photos from the week! 

Upcoming Events

• Wednesday: Virtual Phone Bank  - Register here

• Saturday: Labor 2023 Canvass Launch - RSVP here **Note: You MUST RSVP to attend the Saturday outdoor walk launches. 

Labor 2023 - Canvas Kick-Off

September 4 - 9, 2023

What a first week ! Well...actually, we have been full force in the Labor 2023 cycle since the beginning of summer with our great release staff . This week, we had great labor day celebrations across the state and to end the week, we kicked off our Saturday canvasses with a great turnout of union activists  to knock doors of our fellow union members! 

**Special thank you to UFCW Local 400 for sponsoring our first walks of the cycle across the state! 

This year, we are adding to what we built last year and are continuing to have real conversations on the phones and on the doors with our union members about the issues that are most important to them.  All across the state, union members have been talking to other union members to hear what they care about, to inform them about the importance of voting in this election, reminding them of voting changes, assisting in updating voter registrations, and giving all the important dates and details needed to cast a ballot this election. 

Our volunteers this week kicked it off knocking tons of doors! Some great conversations and responses occurred throughout all the excitement of being able to come together.  

Help us recruit some more union members to help in the efforts of Labor 2023. Be sure to check out our calendar page to sign up for our virtual phone banks, canvass launches, and more held in your area throughout the week! 

REMINDER: Early voting starts on Friday, September 22, 2023. Request your ballot or vote early in person this year. Learn all the details on early vote and getting registered/updating your registration and more on our Voting Info page.

Check out our upcoming events and photos from the week! 

Upcoming Events

• Wednesday: Virtual Phone Bank  - Register here

• Saturday: Labor 2023 Canvass Launch - RSVP here **Note: You MUST RSVP to attend the Saturday outdoor walk launches.  

**NOTE: NOVA Canvass Launch for 9/16 will be held at UMWA hall in Triangle, VA at 18354 Quantico Gateway Dr., #200, Triangle, VA 22172.