Count Every Vote
DON’T TAKE THE BAIT
Election Day is here! Today and post-election day, we may hear more and more dog whistles, lies, and scare tactics. In addition, we know that protecting the sanctity of our election process is the key to our democracy. So, what should we all be singing together amidst this cacophony of noise?
This special edition of Don’t Take the Bait has two purposes: 1) to help keep us all on track with our own messaging and not get caught up in countering lies and attacks, and 2) give our choir (that’s you!) the framework and tools to tap into a national narrative to ensure that every single vote is counted and that the results of the election are respected and protected.
Key Guidelines
Remember that Wisconsin doesn’t allow absentee ballots to be counted before Election Day. It takes time to ensure every vote is counted. Thank you to the poll workers and volunteers working tirelessly to ensure the will of the people is heard and upheld.
Adapted from ASO: Prebunking and Combating MAGA’s Anti-Voter Attacks:
Goal: Reinforce that votes are being counted and it is critical that every voice is heard
Key Principles:
Lead with values. Talk about our freedom to vote and the importance of every vote being counted and every voice being heard.
Center the will of the voters, not candidates. Regardless of what happens, our throughline is that the will of the people must prevail. In the vote-counting period, the narrative is about voters having their voice heard, not about which candidate wins.
Reinforce the vote-counting process. Remind voters that election officials must count every vote and that checks and balances are in place to ensure that every ballot is verified and counted.
Declare that results in Wisconsin are official when the state calls them. To inoculate against partisan actors or news outlets preemptively declaring victory, remind voters that results are only official when the state official reports them.
Speak to barriers voters were forced to face. Certain politicians erected barriers to silence voters. We should emphasize how we turned out despite this.
Describe what voters are for. Focus on the issues that voters turned out to vote for and how we are ready to move forward after the votes are counted.
Set a confident tone. Uplift that the overwhelming will of the people will prevail.
Hashtag: #CountEveryVote #CuentaCadaVoto
In Wisconsin, we don’t rush the process. We ensure every vote is counted accurately—checked, double-checked, and upheld by the law. That’s something we can all be proud of.
Our freedom to vote and have every ballot counted makes our democracy strong. As results come in, remember: the true outcome will be clear only when each vote is counted. 🗳️
Election officials are following rigorous checks and balances to verify each ballot. We’re here to ensure the will of the people, not the haste of a few. Patience today ensures a better tomorrow.
The voting may be over, but the counting is not. Every vote matters and deserves to be counted. Right now, election officials are working hard to ensure accuracy. We’re all in this together to #CountEveryVote. 🗳️
Wisconsin doesn’t allow absentee ballots to be counted before Election Day. It takes time to ensure every vote is counted. Thank you to the poll workers and volunteers working tirelessly to ensure the will of the people is heard and upheld.
Take Action
Links to detailed message guides for more resources:
Graphics and digital assets for your use here (note: this link contains c3 and c4 graph (note: this link contains c3 and c4 graphics; please be mindful of use)
EVERGREEN GUIDANCE
LEAD with shared values — such as community, safety, prosperity, equity, justice, or fairness — in a way that names race and class while bringing people together.
FOCUS on the creation of good — delivering jobs and healthcare, funding schools and communities, creating a process where every Wisconsinite can safely and freely cast our ballot, etc. — tangible positive outcomes, rather than the amelioration of harm (e.g., “provide for every child so they can achieve their dreams” instead of “fix our broken system”)
CAST ‘we the people,’ everyday Wisconsinites, as protagonists: Only by acting together can we move Wisconsin forward — in contrast to how our opposition is trying to hold us back. We turned out in record numbers to elect leaders to care for us and act in our interests. We pulled together throughout this pandemic to deliver meals, support neighborhood businesses, support our kids and care for loved ones. That’s why it’s so important that we bring our neighbors and communities into the story as its main actors and as active agents who can and will change the outcome.
CHARACTERIZE the opposition: Who is violating our values? How are they doing it? What is their motivation? What role does race play? These are all questions we need to answer clearly (without jargon!) in our messaging.
DEFINE + DELIVER: define this moment as a pivotal crossroads and deliver a positive, inspirational vision for the future we will create together for a Wisconsin where we all can thrive. We believe that we will win.
AVOID the opposition frame (e.g. CRT, parental control) and PIVOT to our frames of freedom, safety, community, etc.
DO NOT REPEAT accusations, even to refute them. (e.g. do not say “critical race theory is not....”)
AVOID THE ‘RECIPE’: as always, say the brownie, not the recipe. The freedom to vote, rather than the abstraction of democracy. The ability to see a doctor when we need it, rather than simply saying expand healthcare.
