Fuse Helps Voters
Fuse Helps Voters
As ballots get more and more complicated, it’s tempting to skip over some of the items and just vote for people and propositions you understand. That’s not a good idea, because it plays into the hands of extremists who are more committed to their candidate or issue. It’s important for all of us to vote on all matters, but it’s easier to do that when you have information you can rely on for help.
In my experience, consulting with knowledgeable friends and organizations is a good way to make sensible ballot choices. With that in mind, I feel like the Fuse Washington organization is my best friend at election time. Recently, Fuse has expanded to other states, so if you live in California, Arizona, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania or Virginia, you should see what the local organization has to offer you.
A quick visit to the Fuse Washington website provides this information:
The Progressive Voters Guide is an annual project of Fuse Washington. Since 2008, we've combined the endorsements of Washington's leading progressive organizations with research about candidates and ballot measures to give you the information you've been searching for to be an informed voter. More than 4,000,000 people have used the Progressive Voters Guide, and thousands come back each and every election for more of our thorough candidate research and trusted recommendations.
At election time, Fuse provides a sample ballot, tailored to where I live, with suggestions of how to vote on nearly every item. What’s most valuable is not just their endorsement, but the reasons for the endorsement and a list of the organizations who also support the candidate or issue. With that information, it’s easy to decide whether or not to follow their recommendation or to consider another option.
I have been so impressed with the work of Fuse Washington, that I donate monthly to support their work. They have also shown their appreciation of my support by inviting me to special events and giving me an opportunity to meet staff members. Each contact I have had with them has been positive and I’ve recommended their Voters Guide to many friends.
Here's another quote from the Fuse Washington website, explaining their vision:
Fuse is the state's largest progressive organization - people creating change online, on the ground, and on issues that matter. We envision a Washington where everyone who works hard and plays by the rules can be part of a secure middle class, and create a better world for our children.
At a recent meeting, I had the opportunity to chat with Ciara Coughlan, the Development and Events Manager at Fuse Washington. It was great to learn about her work and get my questions answered about Fuse operations. I came away even more enthusiastic about the organization. Her bio and e-mail link are found in the “Meet the Team” section of the Fuse Washington website. Here’s the photo I took when we met in Bothell:
This may be the most important election in our lifetimes. Washington ballots will be in the mail in just a few days. Please get yourself prepared to vote NOW so that you can promptly return your ballot. Waiting increases the change you might forget, lose your ballot, or have your ballot challenged without enough time to fix the problem.
Voting is both a right and a responsibility. Please do your part to make our democratic system work!