I was naturalized as a U.S. Citizen in 2010 - I was registered as a voter immediately following my naturalization ceremony, and I’ve been an enthusiastic voter ever since. I haven’t missed a single election, even the ones that are just local issues (which, I would argue are the most important).
This year’s election is going to look a lot different from those in past years, so please check your voter registration and make sure you have a voting plan. Whether that’s early voting, voting by mail or via absentee ballot, or voting in person (be prepared for it to take a while due to social distancing). you need a plan. I’ve already sent in my mail-in ballot request, and I will be watching my mail like a hawk starting October 6th, which is when they are supposed to start going out in my county.
Besides the logistics of voting, this year my voting plan also includes voting paraphernalia. Today’s post includes some of these items! Enjoy!
Cleveland-based, woman-owned small business Oceanne has customized 5-letter necklaces, which you can customize to say VOTE or VOTER (I haven’t seen anyone using VOTER yet, but I like it as an alternative). You can buy that here, or you can customize any Oceanne piece here. Oceanne also offers a line of VOTE t-shirts in her shop and online.
For a cozier voting vibe, Cleveland based, woman-owned small business Yellowcake has a line of Voting sweatshirts and t-shirts in a variety of colors. You can find the whole collection here. I own a different sweatshirt from Yellowcake and can attest to how soft it is. Highly recommend.
if you’re like me, you’ve been calling/emailing/and otherwise contacting your elected officials for a wide range of reasons since 2016. Recently I’ve read reports that sending one of those mass emails may not be effective. For tips on making these emails more effective, read this post. If you want to go more old school AND support the USPS while you do it, these postcards by Cleveland-based, woman-owned small business Free Period Press are a great alternative! You can find these postcards here.
I’m unclear on whether we will receive a voting sticker for voting by mail, but this sticker by Cleveland small business SnarkyPantsStudio. may help. Love the little sass, and the best part is that it’s weather-proof so it won’t fade. Find it here.
There are many variations of this tee online, but if you want to shop a Black woman-owned Cleveland business, this is the one you want!
Masks are THE accessory of 2020, and these Resistance by Design masks are the ultimate fashion statement. The masks come in a variety of colors and you can also get all kinds of other stuff like hats, beach towels and even silk scarves. Find the entire line of products here.
Last, but certainly not least, I have one secret item for you. Designed as a protest item during the 2016 RNC, Fear’s Confections offers a treat called the Trump Dump, which may be especially appealing to your based on your political affiliation. You can pre-order this item by contacting Fear’s Confections directly via their website.
Happy election season all!!