When one thinks about an election as momentous as the one on November 3, 2020, it involves not only the selection of the next president, but also important races that could flip the Senate blue. Swing states like Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin have the greatest power over election outcomes, but every vote in every state matters, although the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly posed a challenge to traditional campaigns, One silver lining is that people who do not reside in any of the 12 leading states can have just as much influence as those who do.

"Primarily, the way people can get involved and make a big impact this year is through phone banking. When we call out to swing state voters, we are seeing people pick up the phone and respond. People can call when and where it is convenient for them," explains Erica Saglans, the organizing director of Swing Left (open in new tab).

"Many of our volunteers have phone banking parties where they have 50 to 100 people check in on Zoom, learn how to phone bank, and then stay on Zoom and chat with each other while they make their calls."

In addition to phone banking, here are some ways you can safely and effectively make a difference in the 2020 election, whether you live in a swing state or not.

The voter registration deadline (opens in new tab) is fast approaching across the United States. Registration takes two minutes and can be done here (opens in new tab). Once you have registered to vote, be sure to reach out to your family and friends to get them registered as well. For those who moved during the pandemic (especially those who returned to their hometowns while in college and completed their courses online), make sure they are registered to vote in the correct state.

Much misinformation has been spread about absentee voting, also known as ballot-by-mail. The President has stated that mail-in ballots are synonymous with fraudulent voting (opens in new tab) and continues to try to delegitimize this practice, but there is no evidence to support this (opens in new tab). Voting by mail is a safer alternative to voting in person during a pandemic, and states have practiced it for years. It is important that you communicate this to your friends, family, and co-workers who feel they need to compromise their health to vote. To be clear, that is not true.

For more information on the rules and eligibility to vote by mail in your state, see here (opens in new tab).

In order to achieve record voter turnout, you (and others; see the article below) need to be aware of the issues at stake in the 2020 elections. Start by reading the following articles:

How will Joe Biden and Kamala Harris fight COVID? 19

READ IT (opens in new tab)

Kamala Harris and Joe Biden's position on climate change

READ IT (opens in new tab)

Kamala Harris and Joe Biden's position on gun control

READ IT (opens in new tab)

Kamala Harris' position on the economy

READ IT (opens in new tab)

Kamala Harris' position on healthcare

READ IT (opens in new tab)

Additionally, gun A great way to see the positions of the nation's senatorial candidates on important issues like regulation is to follow along on a virtual Giffords Road to Universal Background Tour (opens in new tab), which calls for a Senate majority to pass universal background checks.

LEARN MORE (opens in new tab)

As noted above, phone banking has become a safe and effective voting alternative during the COVID-19 pandemic. To get started, visit Swing Left's phone banking hub (opens in new tab) to select a swing state in which to do phone banking and to see which groups are holding it virtually in your area (opens in new Open in new tab). If you are new to phone banking, Swing Left will provide you with all the tools to get started. By contacting just one person, you can influence multiple elections at your polling place. Local elections are important, and we can help you get the word out.

GET STARTED (open in new tab)

Letter writing to encourage people to vote is also an effective virtual campaign tool, while also benefiting the United States Postal Service (USPS), which is currently under attack (open in new tab) by the Trump administration. Gather your friends or attend a virtual letter writing party hosted by Swing Left to meet other volunteers.

HOST A VIRTUAL LETTER WRITING PARTY (opens in new tab)

BUY STAMPS (opens in new tab)

Organizations across the country are defending democracy and fighting voter suppression, which our country is currently facing at an all-time high ( opens in new tab) and are dedicated to helping fight it. Below are a few organizations dedicated to ensuring free and fair elections:

FAIR FIGHT (opens in new tab)

COMMON CAUSE (opens in new tab)

ELECTION PROTECTION (opens in new tab)

WHEN WE ALL VOTE (opens in new tab)

ROCK THE VOTE (opens in new tab)

ACLU (opens in new tab)

THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE (opens in new tab)

You can also donate directly to campaigns you are interested in, or purchase goods for voters (opens in new tab).

Interesting fact: poll workers are paid. Due to the pandemic, there is a nationwide shortage of poll workers (opens in new tab), and your city needs your help, too: since July, Power the Polls (opens in new tab) has registered more than 400,000 young, healthy voters as poll workers across the United States. For more information, click here (opens in new tab).

BECOME A POLL WORKER (opens in new tab)

Swing Left, along with 25 other progressive political organizations, launched "The Last Weekends" (opens in new tab)." The campaign "mobilizes massive volunteer efforts across the country in the final weeks of the November election," encouraging people to volunteer and connect with their constituents during this critical period. The latter begins with conversations with one's friends and family.

Especially in the final weeks leading up to the election, it is important to have conversations with those close to you about how you plan to vote and what is at stake in this election, including important social justice issues. (For more information on how to talk to your parents about Black Lives Matter, there is an excellent guide here (opens in a new tab). After all, if you've had at least one conversation, you've made an impact, and that's what matters.