Just 12 days left before the November 7 election, and early voting starts Saturday! A reminder that you can visit any of the early voting locations to cast your ballot. Selected locations throughout the city will be open from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm both Saturday and Sunday and you can look up when an early voting location will be open near you at www.boston.gov/departments/elections/early-voting-boston.
Another important thing to consider before this election: Was your neighborhood affected by Boston’s redistricting process? The most significant shifts happened in Dorchester, Mattapan, and the South End. To be sure you know who will be on your ballot, go to www.boston.gov/departments/city-council/who-my-boston-city-councilor and scroll down to the map labeled Future City Council District Representation. There is a search box there to put in your address and check what district you are now in (see the yellow highlighted section on the map below). Don’t get surprised on Election Day — if you think you may have been affected, double-check now!
And now a plea to you all: Please consider spending just a few hours of your time to help a BTU-endorsed candidate in this final push to the election. We get involved in local politics and carry out endorsement processes because we know how important it is to have elected officials who understand the importance of education and that we need to care for our students AND our educators. In these “off-year” elections where only city councilors are on the ballot, many people don’t prioritize voting, which means a small number of voters are making decisions for all of us. That means it’s very important to vote, but also that your volunteer efforts make a big impact on the race.
Below are a wide range of options for getting involved, both in your own district or for an at-large councilor. Please take the time to join these campaigns and the BTU in talking to some voters this weekend!
BTU Phone Banks
Phone banking outreach to BTU members continues, letting them know about the election and about our endorsed candidates. Join us from 3:00 to 7:00 pm on:
- Today! Thursday, October 26
- Monday, October 30
- Wednesday, November 1
- Thursday, November 2
- Monday, November 6
If you’d like to be part of a phone bank, please reach out to jmcinnis@btu.org! You don’t have to be there for the whole time–anything you contribute will be helpful.
Councilor Julia Mejia, At-Large
You can join Team Julia this weekend at Villa Victoria in the South End on Saturday, October 28 at 1:00 pm, or find them in Roxbury at Merengue Restaurant on Sunday October 29 at 2:00 pm.
Councilor Mejia is the chair of the council’s Education Committee and we want to make sure she returns to the city council as our partner!
Henry Santana, At-Large
www.henrysantana.com/
At-large council candidate Henry Santana continues to be everywhere all across the city as he works for every vote. If you want to canvass for multiple candidates at once this weekend, your best option is the first event on this list, which will also include Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune and District 6 candidate Ben Weber.
- Early Voting Kickoff with Ben Weber and Ruthzee Louijeune, Stony Brook T Station, Jamaica Plain Saturday, October 28 – 10:00 AM
- Fenway Canvass with Councilor Sharon Durkan
Saturday, October 28 – 1:30 PM - East Boston Canvass Kickoff, Maverick Square
Saturday, October 28 – 12:00 PM (noon) - Chinatown Early Vote Rally, Chinatown Gate
Sunday, October 29 – 11:00 AM
Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune, At-Large
As mentioned, Councilor Louijeune is part of a big early voting kickoff in Jamaica Plain at 10 am on Saturday, October 28. You can also join Team Ruthzee this weekend for a standout in Mattapan at noon on Saturday, or head out to East Boston on Sunday, October 29 at 10:00 am (Noyes Playground, 86 Boardman St) to canvass for Ruthzee with Councilor Gigi Coletta, Rep. Adrian Madaro, and Senator Lydia Edwards!
Team Ruthzee is also starting to recruit volunteers to help them on November 7, Election Day! If you’d like to sign up to be a polling station on behalf of the councilor, please fill out this form.
Joel Richards, District 3
Mr. Richards and his volunteers will be canvassing this weekend from the Clapp’s Favorite Pear (695 Columbia Rd) on Saturday, October 28 at 10:00 am and from Ba Le Restaurant (1052 Dorchester Ave) on Sunday, October 29 at 10:00 am. To join them, RSVP with the campaign by clicking these links!
Enrique Pepén, District 5
Enrique Pepén, our endorsed candidate for District 5, is canvassing in Mattapan this Saturday at 10 am. Meet at Hunt Almont Playground (Almont St, 02126) to knock some doors for Enrique! Click here to sign up for this event.
Enrique was also a subject of a Boston Globe article this week on the District 5 race. Read it to hear more about his candidacy and goals for D5!
In District 5, a stark choice for voters for Boston City Council
Ben Weber, District 6
One more mention here of the early voting kickoff this Saturday at 10 am featuring Ben Weber, Henry Santana, and Ruthzee Louijeune! This would be a wonderful way to work for several BTU candidates at the same time. Team Weber will also be in West Roxbury this weekend on Sunday, October 29 at 11 am at the Holy Name Rotary.
Sharon Durkan, District 8
www.sharondurkan.com
Councilor Sharon Durakn’s campaign is running a weekly canvass from her Fenway campaign office (120 Brookline Ave, 02215) on Saturdays. This week, Saturday October 28, they will knock doors beginning at 1:30 pm. Sign up here to be a part of the team! You can also canvass for Sharon in Beacon Hill on Sunday, October 29 at 1:30 at Phillips Street Playground.
Councilor Durkan is also looking ahead to getting out the vote next weekend — check out her phone banks and canvasses happening then! You can sign up for any of these at https://www.mobilize.us/sharondurkan/.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have–there is a volunteer role that’s right for everyone and I want to help you find it.
Krista Magnuson
Interim Political Organizer
kmagnuson@btu.org