Election Day
Let's Make All Our Voices Count
The following is a version of a letter Blue Bottle CEO Karl Strovink sent to all US Blue Bottle Coffee employees in early September 2020.
This week, I want to focus on something that brings you—and all of us—great power: your voice. At Blue Bottle, we encourage you to speak up, always, to feel confident that you can share your ideas, questions, and concerns with us and with one another. Outside of Blue Bottle, we encourage you to use your voice in ways you believe and support your beliefs with one simple and powerful act: voting.
Voting is foundational to our representative democracy, yet according to the United States Census Bureau, nearly 40% of eligible US voters did not use their right to vote in the 2012 or 2016 presidential elections. We know there are many reasons for this: disillusionment with the process, or feeling that a vote doesn’t matter. There are also practical issues. Registering to vote can be confusing, with rules varying state by state, and voting itself can be a logistical challenge, whether by mail, absentee, or in person.
So let’s be clear. Voting is a small act but it’s a mighty one. John Lewis, who put his own life on the line to secure the right to vote for Black Americans, put it best: “The vote is precious. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it.”
Here our own Jay Gujjar, Blue Bottle VP of US Cafes, shares what voting will mean to him this year:
“As a green card holder in 2016, I felt so helpless not being able to vote. I remember talking to my friends and family who were American citizens, and they all wore their I Voted sticker with so much pride. I was upset and saddened that I wasn’t allowed to participate and be a part of this democracy.
I passed my US citizenship test the next year, and proudly carried my American passport with me everywhere I went. This year means a lot to me, as I’m sure it does for many people. I feel like my ability to vote will allow me to make a difference. As Election Day approaches, I’m looking forward to wearing the I Voted sticker proudly.”
As a company devoted to care, we want to encourage all of us to use our votes and be heard and counted this and every election year. We’re taking the following steps to help that happen.
What We Can All Do
Make a Plan to Vote
Our Community, Culture, and Belonging Committee (CCB) recently shared a list of resources to help you get registered and make sure you know where and how to vote. You can find them below. Let’s all make sure we have our plans in place to vote now. Registration deadlines vary from state to state, and many hit in early October, so while we still have time, it’s also ticking—give yourself plenty of time to get registered.
2. Learn Who Is on the Ballot
As we make our voting plans, I also want to encourage everyone to find out who is on the ballot beyond the Presidential race, and to take a little time to understand what power these officials have. This year, we will be all electing our federal representatives to the House of Representatives, and in some states, there are also senators on the ballot. In many states, you might be electing state-level representatives and senators, state executive officers, and governors, as well as city council and school board members. You also might find judges and other local-level offices, as well as propositions. Please remember, as important as the Presidential election is, people running in these other races can have a huge impact on our daily lives. We can all take the time to find out who the candidates are, what they stand for, and what their job will be.
3. Vote
To help us all cast our votes, this Election Day Tuesday, November 3, we will be closing all US cafes starting at 3 pm local time and making paid time for our production teams to vote to make sure everyone who wants to vote in person can—both our teams and guests. All cafe team members who would have normally been scheduled at that time will be paid for those hours. We will also be sure to schedule no meetings after 3 pm local time on Election Day.
4. Consider Serving as a Poll Worker
Because of the pandemic, some of our communities are seeing a shortage of poll workers, the people who help check in voters and sometimes even count the votes. This year and every year, your paid Community Day hours are eligible to use to serve as a poll worker. After all, we created the opportunity of an annual Community Day to support our teams in order for them to support their communities. Please work with your manager to arrange the time.
5. Amplify Our Voices
Because of the nature of the Electoral College and the power it has to elect the president, “swing” states such as Nevada, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, Wisconsin, and Michigan might decide the election for the rest of us. Regardless of your party affiliation, these states may play an outsized role in this year’s election. Many organizations have efforts to phone or text voters in these states to help get out the vote. To learn more, simply Google your preferred candidate’s name and one of the swing states to find out how you can get involved.
Voting Resources
Where do I start?
Google has done an impressive job compiling a wide range of voting information on a state-by-state basis, everything from who can vote, to what type of voting registration is available in the selected state, registration dates and deadlines, documents needed to vote, polling hours, poll volunteering, voter accessibility, and more. We have chosen this as a trusted resource to ensure we are providing information that is easy to navigate as well as also real-time as things are swiftly moving and changing amidst the election process during Covid-19.
To get started, go to www.google.com and type into the search “how to register to vote in (enter your state/district)." The below screenshot is an example of what will populate.
Once the results page loads, you will be able to select from a number of voter and election information drop-down menus.
What should I do if I want to complete a mail-in ballot?
Every state’s election rules are different and each state has its own rules and deadlines for mail-in and absentee voting.
For more information surrounding Mail-In and absentee ballots, go here.
For more information regarding USPS election mail, go here.
Where can I get accurate voting education and other information such as who/what is on the ballot (propositions and candidates), as well as education and research tools on what I’m voting for?
Many organizations offer voting guides for national, state, and local elections. You can often find multiple guides by Googling the name and/or number of any ballot proposition or candidate.
Where can I find more information about who is on the ballot and ways to get involved?
Go to www.usa.gov for voting and election information, including registration information, congressional election and midterms, voter guides and sample ballots, find state and local election websites, and more about the presidential election process.
At www.rockthevote.org, you’ll find nationwide voting information and ways to get involved in civic action.
At iamavoter.com, you’ll find a nonpartisan site about their movement to create a cultural shift around voting and civic engagement (get registered, check registration, sign up for election reminders).