Start with the trust you already have.
You have relationships with people who trust you. And through Midterms Matter, you have tools to help them show up informed and prepared. On yesterday’s statewide briefing call, we talked about something that can get lost in conversations about political division: people still turn to people they know.
Think about who comes to you with questions, whose attention you have, and where you already share useful information. Those relationships give you a place to start.
You can help someone make a plan to vote, research their ballot, or learn how to review a voting guide. You can also be open to answering questions that someone might feel embarrassed to ask elsewhere. That is a meaningful contribution. And it uses skills you already practice as a leader: listening, finding reliable information, bringing people together, and helping them take action.
Make the next step easier.
“Go vote” is a useful reminder. Pairing it with practical help makes it easier to act.
People are fitting voting around work, school, caregiving, and busy schedules. Others are overwhelmed by a long ballot or unsure where to find answers.
Try a simple question: “Have you made your plan to vote?”
Then help with the details:
- Share where to find local polling locations and hours.
- Encourage people to review their sample ballot before they go.
- Point them toward nonpartisan resources for researching their choices.
- Make room for voting in the workday.
- Invite people to prepare or go together.
You can keep the conversation focused on how to participate. People can make their own decisions about whom to support.
We’ve already created the nonpartisan explainers, messaging and graphics for you.
You’re busy. Creating election materials from scratch probably isn’t on your list for this week.
That’s why the Midterms Matter toolkit includes ready-to-use resources for the places where you lead:
- Copy-and-paste messages for colleagues, neighbors, nonprofit audiences, professional associations, and faith communities.
- Downloadable graphics for newsletters, social media, and events, with editable options for your organization’s colors and logo.
- Plain-language explainers and videos that answer practical voting questions.
- County resources to help people find local election information.
- Event ideas that make participation something people do together.
Choose your audience, take what’s useful, and share it in your own voice.
Our goal is to make it easy for trusted leaders to deliver helpful information through the channels their communities already use.
Make voting part of community life.
One suggestion on our call was to think of voting as a team sport.
Make a plan with coworkers. Gather friends to research your ballots. Go vote, then meet for tacos. Our team did exactly that with “Turn Out for Tacos.” It gave us a plan, a shared activity, and something to enjoy afterward.
A personal invitation can make participation feel more manageable. It also gives people a chance to ask for the help they need.
Take one action today.
You’re part of a network of more than 800 leaders across Texas using these resources. Each person brings different relationships, audiences, and opportunities to help.
Open the Midterms Matter toolkit. Choose one message. Share it with one group that trusts you.
With 73% of registered Texans still to participate, there is plenty of work we can do together.
Remember: You don't have to have all the answers.
You don’t need every answer at your fingertips.
You can say, “Let’s find out together,” connect someone with the appropriate election office, or bring the question to us.
Keep asking. Keep sharing what you’re hearing. That feedback helps us make the tools more useful for everyone.
