Bluebonnet Votes: Voting Plans and Local Elections

Introduction

Bluebonnet Data exists to support a healthy and representative democracy, and in this article we want to share democracy in action through the voting experiences of our staff, board members, fellows, and other community members. We will share brief spotlights for each person about their voting plan and a discussion of one or two important local elections, candidates or ballot measures they’re excited to vote for.

For those reading, we hope this inspires you to make a plan to vote today and to do your research when voting in your local elections!

🗳️ Bluebonnet Voter Spotlights

Mare Ahmed: Bluebonnet Operations Director

My plan to vote: In the great state of New Jersey, mail-in ballots need to be dropped off 7 days before election day so I dropped off my ballot on September 20th, 2024. My preferred method of voting is to complete a mail-in ballot and drop it off at a designated drop off location. I love the option of early voting especially this year because I will be out of town on election day. Besides the convenience of early voting, it helps the campaign save time and resources so they don’t have to keep reminding you to actually return your mail-in ballot. 

I took a picture of myself to share in reminder messages I sent to my friends, family and colleagues to vote. Though politics can be divisive it is our civic duty to vote. Voting is an extraordinary privilege and we owe it to ourselves, our community and generations to come to vote for the values and policies we believe in. 

Local Election Spotlight: I’m motivated to vote this year for two primary reasons; our democracy and reproductive rights are on the line. Donald Trump has repeatedly embraced and praised authoritarian leaders who undermine the principles of democracy. He does not just admire those dictators but wants to emulate them; violating the very essence of the constitution. Donald Trump has taken credit for limiting access to reproductive rights by appointing three supreme court justices that helped overturn Roe v. Wade. Since then, millions of women have lost access to their reproductive rights which has put the patient and doctors in dangerous circumstances. 

However, voting for local issues is just as important as voting for national issues. So this year, I voted to block a candidate running for a school board position in my hometown. This candidate has made disparaging remarks about the murder of George Floyd and several other inaccurate and inflammatory statements. Our school boards, as well as any other leadership position should be seated by people who are genuinely interested in making a positive change. 

Powell Sheagren: Bluebonnet Programs Associate

My plan to vote: As a California voter from San Diego County, I will be voting by mail this year from my dorm in DC. California does not have an opt-in-opt-out system so my registration automatically sends it in. I’ll get my ballot a few weeks before the election and I have until election day to send it in. The deadline to drop it off is election day, very generous, and I’ll be casting my ballot at the post office under the National Postal Museum in DC!

Local Election Spotlight: One measure I’ll be watching is Prop 33 which expands local governments ability to enact rent control on residential property. San Diego, like much of California, has a large homeless population and a housing affordability issue. Measures like rent control can help keep the inflationary pressures of housing costs down, leading to more people being able to buy a house or apartment and not be pushed out. This is a change I want to see because if I don’t want there to be a budgetary barrier to me moving back to SD to live near my family. Aside from that though, if the measure gets passed I’m sure it’ll make San Diego more affordable and not push out current residents.

Nathán Goldberg Crenier: Bluebonnet Co-founder & Board co-president

My plan to vote: Texas early voting runs from October 21 to November 1, and during early voting you’re allowed to vote in person at any polling location in your county. I’m planning on taking advantage of the short lines and flexible location by casting my ballot in Travis County (home to most of Austin) sometime in October!

Local Election Spotlight: Bluebonnet Data got its start on Beto O’Rourke’s 2018 Senate campaign against Ted Cruz. That same seat is up for election again six years later, and Congressman Colin Allred is giving Ted Cruz a run for his money. A blue Texas was once a pipe dream, but it’s getting closer and closer each cycle, and I’m doing my part to hopefully get Allred across the line this time. 

Shreeya Chand: Bluebonnet Working Group Member

My plan to vote: Since I’m registered to vote in Maryland, but go to school in California, I voted by mail-in-ballot in the general election. Maryland does not automatically send voters mail-in-ballots, so I made sure to request mine early. I received it at the end of September, and sent it back a few days later so it could be received and counted by the Board of Elections on time!

Local Election Spotlight: One of Maryland’s Senate seats up for election this year, with two brand new candidates since Senator Cardin is retiring and not seeking reelection. For a reliably blue state, the race is quite close because the Republican candidate is former Maryland governor Larry Hogan, whose anti-Trump and pro-abortion rights stances appeal to the state’s Democrat voters. This race could influence the balance of power in the Senate. 

Abortion rights are also on my ballot this year, with a ballot question that proposes adding an amendment to the state constitution that “confirms an individual's fundamental right to reproductive freedom”. I’m excited to vote in favor of this amendment to protect the right to choose in a time where reproductive rights are under attack.  

Rithwik Narendra: Bluebonnet Fellow and Working Group Member

My plan to vote: I’m registered to vote in Alameda County, in northern California, but I go to school in Los Angeles. I had my ballot mailed to my dorm and it arrived earlier in October. California has a lot of propositions on the ballot (when do we not?) so I’ve spent a lot of time researching. I’ve made my decisions and will probably mail by ballot sometime this coming week!

Local Election Spotlight: The mayoral race for the city I live in is heating up, both in terms of the accusatory rhetoric and outside groups on all sides. I’ve actually had the opportunity to interact with one of the candidates, who is sponsored by multiple grassroots progressive organizations. He’s definitely earned my vote.

California has many propositions. Powell already shed some light on Prop. 33, which is one of the many interesting and contentious propositions on the ballot. I’ll be curious to see how Prop. 34 plays out. News outlets across the state have described it as a hit-job, as the organizations that fall under its criteria include the AIDS Healthcare Foundation — well actually it’s just that group. This is for all intents and purposes a “revenge initiative.” Corporations and special interests are hijacking this direct democracy feature of our state’s voting laws to target opponents. Irrespective of the merits, the methods are immoral, so I’m voting no on principle. Healthcare spending by nonprofit groups should be regulated, but it should be the legislature, not the people, who do it. It’s far too complex. 

Nicky Osborne, Bluebonnet fellow and Project Manager

My plan to vote:  Early voting has already begun in Massachusetts so I have voted. I want to help move things along as fast as possible! We really need to be put out of our misery.

Local Election Spotlight: I pulled together a post card writing party to write postcards to voters in North Carolina. The message was to get them to vote on Nov. 5th. This was before the big hurricane hit and so I am hoping that at least some of the people will actually get the postcards. I have also been canvassing for a candidate running for state representative in the 10th Bristol County. I go once or twice a weekend. I also attend his Kitchen Cabinet meeting that occurs once a week. We strategize and learn from each other. Getting to know new folks is always fun!

Jake Jackson: Bluebonnet Executive Director

My plan to vote: Colorado for years has been a primarily mail ballot voting state. All voters will be sent ballots in mid-October and they can be returned by mail, drop-boxes, or at the polls on election day; voters may also vote in-person without their mail ballots on election day. I’ll fill out my ballot and return by mail within a few days of receiving it.

Local Election Spotlight: Two ballot measures I’m excited to vote in are the Colorado Amendment 79, Right to Abortion and Health Insurance Coverage Initiative; and Colorado Proposition 131, Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative. Amendment 79 is as it sounds: Enshrining abortion rights and health care coverage in the state constitution. Proposition 131 is a bit more wonky. To learn more just look at Alaska’s recent elections that have used the same top-4 open primary and ranked choice general election I’ll be supporting in Colorado. In recent Alaska elections, this helped elect moderate, popular Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski when she would otherwise have likely lost a primary to a far-right MAGA Republican; as well as Congresswoman Mary Peltola, who is a historic candidate: the first Alaska Native member of Congress, the first woman to represent Alaska in the House of Representatives, the first person born in Alaska elected to the House, and the first Democrat to serve as Alaska's representative in the House since Nick Begich Sr. in 1972.