Fighting for Free and Fair Elections for All in 2026
We cannot be going backwards with the latest Supreme Court decision to gut the Voting Rights Act of 1965. But we are, and all who believe in democracy need to know that millions of people could lose their right to vote in free and fair elections. We should support voting projects that are working on election issues and figure out ways to get more people to vote when only 64% of eligible voters in the country voted in 2024. In Massachusetts, it was 68%. Can we get it to over 85% or higher in Nov. 2026?
For the next six months many people agree that one of the key efforts centers on protecting the vote and getting millions of people out to vote.
The Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Louisiana v. Callais gutted the Voting Rights Act, and the nation’s congressional district lines remain in flux, even with midterm primary elections already underway. For now, Republicans have potentially gained up to 13 seats this year — five in Texas, four in Florida and one each in Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama. Indivisible No. Quabbin has a Voting Team (20 people) working on voter registration, postcard mailings to Georgia, and voter suppression.
HEALTH CARE – PROTECT OUR CARE
Washington politicians slashed $1 trillion from our healthcare safety net in their “One Big Ugly Bill” in July, and they intentionally delayed the pain until after the November elections. They are trying to hide the devastating consequences from voters. People are mobilizing for Seven Days in June (June 1-7) to force them to answer for it before we vote - and to memorialize those who have died from lack of access to healthcare, and the many more who will once these cuts go through. You can join a Vigil at 7:15 p.m. in Northampton. Meet in the Parking Lot of the Bridge St. School off Main St.
Local Actions in North Quabbin Region
Sat., June 6th from 11-12noon –“Protect Our Care” Stand Out
Indivisible North Quabbin will be part of the Seven Days in June to highlight healthcare issues for all people in this country with over 15 million people losing healthcare coverage. Special signs will be used on Sat., June 6th to highlight our concerns. This visibility event with signs will help us inform people about some of the issues and impacts of the “Big Ugly Bill” after the November election.
Voting Team
The Voting Team has 20 people working on several projects that include sending postcards, voter registration and voter suppression. The next full team meeting will be on Thursday, May 28th at 5:00 at the 1st Universalist Church at 31 No. Main St. in Orange. If you are interested in working with the Voting Team send an email to indivisiblenorthquabbin@gmail.com
The postcards are part of a voter registration campaign by a group called Field Team 6. We chose this group because the addresses are to people who live in Democratic leaning districts who do not have cell phones or email addresses, so they are less likely to be inundated with political messaging. An independent analysis of some of the Field Team 6 2024 postcard campaigns showed that 20% of people who received a postcard from them registered as a Democrat and a high percentage of those people voted in the 2024 election.
Another sub-committee is working on voter registration. The third subcommittee is working on voter suppression and hopes to send letters to the editor and have other opinion pieces published in local newspapers to educate people about this national issue.
Mutual Aid (Community Outreach and Self-Sufficiency–COSS)
ORANGE FOOD PANTRY
The Orange Food Pantry is now open on Saturdays from 12-2 for those who cannot come on Thursday. (You may only shop 1 of the days each week)
The Orange meal site has moved meal service days from Thursdays to Tuesdays from 3:30-5:30
DONATIONS have slowed down lately and there is still a need. Favorite items are hygiene products, jams and jellies, microwaveable and no-cook meals.
If you are interested in working with COSS send an email to indivisiblenorthquabbin@gmail.com
State Legislation to Support
PROTECT Act now in Conference Committee of MA State Legislature
PROTECT ACT for MA – Contact your state legislator (both Senate and House) to urge that they work to get the Conference Committee to act quickly. Once the committee files its report, it cannot be amended; both chambers must immediately take a simple "yes" or "no" vote before sending it to Governor Maura Healey. See https://miracoalition.org/news/senate-releases-version-of-the-protect-act/ for details on the stricter Senate version. The Conference Committee will meet on Wednesday, May 27th at 1 p.m. See https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/5702.
Steering Committee and Planning for Future Events
On May 16th a small group of 16 people met for food and a discussion of what people feel are important activities. Key points seemed to involve setting up an Outreach/Communications Committee, a Special Events Committee as well as expanding the Steering Committee and working to involve more young people.
Some Wins for the Week
See Common Dreams “Rally with Sen. Bernie Sanders and Graham Platner in Maine” https://www.commondreams.org/news/bernie-sanders-graham-platner?utm_source=Common+Dreams&utm_campaign=2
Other things to celebrate
Massachusetts collected more than $3.1 billion in revenue from the state’s 4% tax on high-income earners over the first 10 months of the state’s current fiscal year. That’s a 20% increase over the $2.5 billion collected at the same point last year.
On Thursday, federal judges in Maine and Wisconsin dismissed Justice Department lawsuits trying to force those states to hand over detailed voter data, including birth dates, addresses, and partial Social Security numbers, the AP reported. Those rulings were the latest in a run of defeats that also includes AZ, CA, MA, MI, OR, and RI; the DOJ has sued at least 30 states and the District of Columbia for that data and has appealed several of the losses. - 50501 Friday Briefing
Courts in Colorado and Kansas sided with transgender minors seeking access to gender-affirming care, barring federal and state attempts to block their treatment. - Jess Craven
A federal judge dismissed human smuggling charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia. - Jess Craven
The Senate’s referee killed a billion-dollar ballroom heist. Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that Republicans broke Senate rules when they tried to slip $1 billion into a Secret Service bill—including $220 million for Trump’s “free” ballroom. Trump phoned Majority Leader Thune and demanded she be fired. She still has her job. Trump lost his billion. - Scott Dworkin
Both the Senate and the House postponed a vote on the reconciliation bill. Since Trump has been adamant about his June 1 deadline this is a really big deal. Your calls (in conjunction with Trump’s self-defeating behavior) are WORKING! Let’s keep them up! - Jess Craven
Indivisible North Quabbin – Orange, Erving, Warwick, Wendell, New Salem, Petersham, Athol, Phillipston, Royalston
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