Knowledge Is Power

Monthly dispatch

Midterm Election

Fighting Authoritarianism with Knowledge and Resources - October Edition

Issue 04 · October 2026 · PODS monthly dispatch

This week, we are focusing on the upcoming elections on November 3rd. More information on how to vote, how to protect yourself and others while voting, and how to get involved in elections can be found in the articles below. We are not here to tell you whom to vote for, but we ask that you vote for the person that you think will be able to do the job(s) better than any of the other candidates, even if they do not match your stances completely. Fascism relies on apathy, it cannot survive active resistance. 


Why Every Election Matters

One does not have to look far to see the impacts that our elected leaders have had on our lives today. I could talk about genocides, abductions, unjust wars, environmental collapse, and on and on; but on the simplest and most personal level, I ask you this: do you fully trust the food you are eating and the water you are drinking? This November's election will not fix everything, but it has the potential to create momentum against the madness we are currently living under.

Every election is a decision. Each voter must decide which candidate they think will be best for the job. If we wait for the perfect candidate, then we will never elect anyone. That is not saying that people should vote blindly for a candidate or compromise their morals, but to understand that sometimes voting is about harm reduction. 

In the next month, we can decide to limit the Trump regime's stranglehold on our lives and the lives of billions across the globe. 


How to Vote


A full 'Election 101' can be found here: Voting 101

  1. Register and Check that you are Registered to Vote
  2. Make a Plan to Vote
    1. Will you vote in person, or mail in your ballot?
      1. If in person, How will you get there?
      2. If mailing in, are you able to drop off your ballot at a designated drop off zone?
      3. Early Voting starts as early as September 24th as late as November 2nd. Please check out:
        1. Illinois Early Voting
        2. Wisconsin Absentee in Person
        3. Michigan Early Voting
    3. Who are you voting for? What referendums are on the ballot?


What is on My Ballot?

Ballotpedia Sample Ballot is a great tool to research what is up for a vote in your area

Injustice Watch Cook County Judicial Elections lists candidates for Cook County's Judges and any relevant information on them

  • It is easier to write down judges you do not want to vote for as the lists can be quite long.

How to protect Myself and Others While voting?

The sad truth is that our elections have never been in greater danger than today. ICE has been ramping up activity across the country leading up to the elections while the Trump regime has been issuing concerning statements about voting and oligarchs across the country are pouring millions of dollars into corrupt campaigns. We are not here to fear-monger, though, we are here to vote. The individual risk Our recommendations on how to protect yourself and others this election cycle are listed below, but the main take-away we want you to have is that we decide what is acceptable. Fascism cannot stand against a people united.

  1. Check your Registration and ensure you're polling place ahead of time.
    1. In Illinois, you can register in person on the day of the election, but we recommend ensuring that you are properly registered ahead of time and double-checking before voting. This is especially important if voting by mail.
  3. Vote Early and In Person
    1. With current tampering with the USPS and rumors of ICE at polling stations, we feel the best way to ensure your vote is counted is to vote in the early elections in person. Early voting information can be found under How to Vote section.
      1. Going in a group can ensure you have support and also is a great way to get friends and neighbors to come vote as well!
    3. Intimidation by federal agents is less likely in early voting.
      1. The logistics of being physically present at every polling place for an entire month of early voting is lower than on election day. Early voting gives people options to vote on any day of the week and at any time of the day.
  5. If Voting by Mail, we recommend designated drop off locations over submitting a ballot through the USPS
    1. The Trump regime has been interfering with how the USPS handles mail-in ballots. Our recommendation is to avoid them altogether, but if that is not possible then dropping off a ballot is very secure.
    2. If you are unable to physically drop off your ballot: verify your registration and mail in your ballot as soon as possible. You can use this link to check the status of your ballot: Ballot Tracker
  7. Sign up to be an Election Judge
    1. Poll Working is a paid position that runs polling places and ensures votes are counted correctly. They also ensure that the polling place is safe and free of influence on voters. Information on how to be a poll worker can be found here: Poll Worker Information

Calendar

Take action

No Kings - Vote Early - Nationwide Day Of Action

No Kings: Vote Early is the next step of reclaiming our power after a year of mass mobilizations. It's a day of nonpartisan voter participation, being in community with each other, and making sure every eligible voter has a plan, knows their options, and is ready to make their voice count.

By 2026-17-10

No Kings: Vote Early — No Kings - Vote Early - Nationwide Day Of Action
“[We] need to see revolution not as the heroic Act or Event, but as an ongoing practice of care, compassion, and nurturing - for one another, for the land, for the earth. We begin to realize that the most radical form of revolution is the process of social, spiritual, and ecological regeneration.”
— John P. Clark , Forward to Black Flags and Windmills by Scott Crow

Op-ed

The John Lewis Voting Rights Act Matters

For most of American history, voting wasn't a right everyone shared. It was a privilege that plenty of people were deliberately shut out of. Race, sex, property ownership, and other barriers kept too many people from participating in decisions that shaped their lives. The 15th Amendment in 1870 barred discrimination in voting on the basis of race, the 19th Amendment in 1920 extended that right to women, and the 24th Amendment in 1964 banned poll taxes in federal elections. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was meant to give those promises real force. It banned discriminatory voting practices and required certain jurisdictions with histories of discrimination to get federal approval before changing election rules.

That protection was important because discrimination did not disappear on its own. After Reconstruction. States used literacy tests, poll taxes, grandfather clauses, and intimidation to keep Black voters away from the polls. By 1940, only 3% of eligible African Americans in the South were registered to vote. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is designed to stop discriminatory changes before they take effect. It is intended to stop communities from fighting each new barrier after the harm has already been done.

That safeguard was severely weakened in 2013. Shelby County v. Holder struck down the formula used to determine which jurisdictions had to go through preclearance. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s warning still resonates: removing that protection was “like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.” After that ruling, states moved quickly to pass stricter voting laws, including voter ID requirements and other limits. Ever since, the fight over voting rights has shown up in very practical ways: polling places shut down, mail voting rules become harder to navigate, and redistricting maps are drawn in ways that weaken the power of communities of color. These are not small technical issues. They shape who gets heard and who gets left out.

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is an effort to rebuild those protections. It would create a new preclearance system for jurisdictions with recent histories of discrimination and help stop harmful voting changes, like restrictive ID laws or polling place closures, before they take effect. It would also restore a stronger federal check on voting changes that might otherwise go forward with little oversight.

This matters because voting rights are not abstract. They decide who can register, who can vote without unnecessary obstacles, and whose voices count when public decisions are made. Protecting those rights is about making democracy real for everyone, not just for people who already have the easiest path to the ballot box.

About this dispatch

Knowledge Is Power is the monthly dispatch from PODS — a newsletter for people building political understanding and practical community power. Each issue brings one main story, a win worth celebrating, a piece of history worth knowing, and concrete ways to show up where you live. The information provided is intended solely for lawful and appropriate use. Readers are solely responsible for how they interpret and use this information. Nothing in this content should be construed as encouraging, directing, or endorsing unlawful, harmful, or inappropriate conduct. We disclaim any liability for actions taken or consequences arising from the use or misuse of this content.

Community resources

How to get involved

  • Come to a meeting — PODS meets the last Tuesday of every month at The Beer Shop in Oak Park. New faces always welcome — no experience needed.
  • Check out the People's Lobby — Fifteen minutes a month. You call three people when something urgent comes up.
  • Join PASO — A grass roots west suburban action project
  • Join Indivisible West Side Chicago — Collective work locally, regionally, and nationally to: - Resist regressive policies - Promote progressive politics - Amplify the voices of historically marginalized communities - Hold public servants accountable - Employ democratic principles

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