Olivia speaks with Liuba Grechen Shirley, founder of Vote Mama, about the importance of having mothers in political positions. Vote Mama aims to support and endorse women candidates, particularly mothers, to create a more inclusive political landscape.

On August 7th, 2024, Olivia tweeted: "Can my husband find out who I am voting for in the Presidential Election?" We've been getting this question a lot, so we rounded up some helpful facts.” This one tweet became a national conversation, and a lot of people had a lot of things to say about it. Olivia and Jenny sat down to talk about how the tweet came to be, the backlash from the tweet, and why it’s incredibly important to keep reminding women that their vote is their vote. So, can my husband find out who I voted for?

Olivia chats with musician Jim Hurst about the evolving political landscape in the United States since 2016. They dive into the challenges of navigating political discourse in a polarized environment and explore the importance of maintaining open dialogue, even when opinions differ.

What if I want to vote early? Early voting is a great choice for a number of reasons - given the extended nature of early voting the lines are usually shorter and voting becomes an easy, fast activity that fits into your schedule.

What if there are confusing voting rules I need to know? A lot of states have introduced laws around polling locations and they can be confusing - we don’t want anything to disenfranchise you. Your vote is your own, we want you to use it. So make sure to brush up on the laws in your voting locale!

What if the polls close while I am in line waiting to vote? If the polls close while you’re in line to vote don’t leave. Don’t step out of line. If you are already in line when the polls close, stay in line until you get the chance to cast your ballot. You have the right to vote. Just hang in line until your time comes.

Can my husband find out who I voted for in a presidential election? The answer is no! In a Presidential general election, you can vote for any candidate on the ballot, regardless of your registered party. Your spouse cannot find out who you voted for unless you choose to share that information. It's important to remember that your vote is your own and a protected civil liberty.

If you are a first time voter, you may have questions about what the process is like, what you need, and how to set yourself up for success in voting. On this quick episode, we are helping any first time voters figure out what they need to vote! We’re answering the question, what do I need to know if it is my first time voting?

What if you didn’t send your absentee ballot in? Well, we have answers! This is one of those “depends” answers — you might be able to vote in person even if you received a ballot in the mail, every state has different rules so check your location out! If you can’t find the information you’re looking for call your local election board.

What if I want to wear my candidate’s name to vote? Bit of bad news for you on that one — you can’t appear to be endorsing a candidate or campaigning at the polls. Conference of State Legislatures.

What if I don’t know if I need identification to vote? Voter ID laws vary [wildly] state to state. If you DO need your ID make sure it is current and not expired. Make sure you know where your ID is and it’s ready to accompany you to the polls.

What if I’m anxious about finding my polling location? Practice run, baby! If you’re a nervous parker or get anxious about going to new locations, do a practice run! You might be limited on time on election day, so go take a quiet Saturday and go scope out the site.

Can I bring my kids with me to vote? Kids can totally come vote with you and come into the booth with you until they are 18! Some states DO have some restrictions around how many children you can bring into the booth with you, so contact your local board of elections if you need to bring more than 1 child in the voting booth with you.

What if I make a mistake on my ballot? We have answers! Most importantly, we want to encourage you to vote intentionally and without rushing — there is no reason to rush through this process, take a breath and take a moment to make sure you’re filling out your ballot correctly.

We chatted with Zeke Tayler, a physician and political activist, about his journey into canvassing and the powerful role grassroots engagement plays in shaping democracy. He believes that taking even small steps toward civic engagement can make a difference and that democracy is fundamentally about community care.