How fortunate we were to have the gentle, powerful force of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg among us for so long. She was a tiny giant, a naturally shy woman with a voice that roared truths that will echo across the generations. Now it's up to us. Now, more than ever, we must work and fight and strive to be worthy of her towering example.

Update regarding absentee voting in Polk County, NC: The Polk County Board of Elections has announced that it will NOT be able to send staff members outside to pick up absentee ballots from voters who do not want to enter the Womack Building. This video gives you two alternative ways to deliver your ballot. 

ALSO: To check the status of your absentee ballot, go to NorthCarolina.BallotTrax.net.

Q 1: Where are the signs for Democrats?
We have stocked up on signs in the headquarters building. NC law forbids posting political signs along public roads until September 15 this year. You have no doubt noticed that not everyone abides by this restriction, but we do.

Q 2: How can I get signs and stickers?
Please do not put out any signs on public roads until September 15. We have lots of signs for some candidates (with more on the way), and a limited number for some others. Because we have to purchase the signs for Biden, Cooper, and Cunningham, we are asking for a donation of $10 per sign to offset our costs. Bumper stickers are coming as well. The HQ building will be open from 10am to 2pm Tuesdays through Saturdays beginning Tuesday, September 8.

Q 3: Is the headquarters building open?
The HQ building in Columbus is now open for four hours on Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10:00am to 2:00pm through Election Day. If you're interested in taking on a shift, email Pat Salomon.

Q 4: Can I vote as soon as I receive my absentee ballot?
Absolutely. As soon as you get your absentee ballot, you can fill it out and return it to the Polk County Board of Elections, either by mail or in person. We have a brand-new video on how to fill out and return your absentee ballot. Scroll down to see the video, and share it with your friends.

We recommend that you return your completed ballot to the Board of Elections office as early as possible. That way, if there's any issue with your ballot or the return envelope, it will give the elections staff time to contact you so you can correct it. If you haven't requested an absentee ballot but would still like to, there is a new online portal for you to make your request. Click here to do it now. DO NOT WAIT.

Q 5: Which method of voting do you recommend?
All three voting methods—absentee, early in-person, and on Election Day—are equally valid. However, we do recommend that you vote as early as you can. Most of your executive committee members are voting absentee because it's the earliest way get your ballot into the system—as long as you do it early enough. (If you're unsure about the security of voting absentee, check out this video.)

Early voting is another good option. It starts on October 15. In our opinion, voting on Election Day should be your last option, because last minute snafus might possibly cause problems that would make it difficult for you to cast your ballot. If you can vote early, do it.

If you need any assistance — or know anyone who does — email Andy or call him at 828-817-2999. We are here to help.

​For North Carolina voters only: All this talk about problems with the Postal Service may have you worried that your absentee ballot will get lost or delayed. Here's how to vote by mail without having to rely on the mail.

Polk County Democratic Party Chair Andy Millard had a Zoom conversation with Director of Elections Cliff Marr. Cliff agreed to let Andy make it into a video This info applies to all Polk voters regardless of your political leanings.

The Polk County Democratic Party is recommending that all voters vote absentee this year. This video will walk you through it. The video is broken down into chapters:
1 - Introduction
2 (2:02) - How to obtain a request form
3 (3:18) - How to fill out the form
4 (7:34) - How to return the form to the Board of Elections
5 (8:49) - A request, and why this is important
6 (10:02) ​Conclusion

by Andy Millard

A longtime Polk Dem just called me with the news that his neighbor, a lifelong Republican, had finally gotten fed up and switched over to our side. And he was pleasantly surprised at the warm welcome he had received from Democrats.

People all over America are suddenly going through this same process. It’s been a long time coming, and it's got a name: Trump Fatigue.

One of our jobs as Democrats is to turn opponents into supporters. But that's an impossible task. Each person must have their own change of heart. Their mind—and their vote—will surely follow.

That's where Trump Fatigue comes in. The sheer volume of self-serving, law-breaking, nausea-inducing behavior coming out of the White House over the last three-and-a-half years has opened the eyes of many GOP voters. At the same time, a continual stream of videos showing Black citizens suffering abuse at the hands of law enforcement has exposed a brutal truth that can no longer be ignored.

Slowly, imperceptibly, people of goodwill tire of the shenanigans. Then comes the last straw—one more heartbreaking video or sad MAGA rally—and it tips the scale. Suddenly the viewer sees things in a whole new light. What looks like a snap decision is just the inevitable end of a long road.

Hearts and minds are changing in our favor every day, and we need to greet converts with open arms. I always say there are more of us than you think; that’s getting more true every day.​

by Andy Millard

For many of us, Juneteenth is a day that has hovered near the back of our awareness for years. Recent events have combined with serendipitous timing to propel it to the forefront of national attention. That's a good thing. And although our current president played a major part in bringing this about, he deserves no credit for, as he claims, making Juneteenth "famous."

In a very real way, current events are simply an extension of the story of the day. It was two and a half years between Lincoln's signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and June 19, 1865, the date that Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and relayed the news to the formerly enslaved persons of Texas. Similarly, we are now in the midst of an even longer-delayed reckoning surrounding the the meaning of that first Juneteenth and our country's original sin that made it necessary.

The Polk County Democratic Party recognizes that long delay, and we are committed to participating with open minds and hearts in the long process of healing.

President Barack Obama said it best: "Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory, or an acceptance of the way things are. It's a celebration of progress. It's an affirmation that despite the most painful parts of our history, change is possible––and there is still so much work to do."

​The Polk County Democratic Party has watched in anguish and anger as events continue to unfold following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Recent actions by the President of the United States have exacerbated the situation, threatened the liberties of Americans, and sought to divide us neighbor from neighbor.

We wish to make our position clear:

We recognize the centuries-old pestilence of systemic racism and are committed to rectifying it through constructive change.

We support Americans’ First Amendment rights to assemble and petition the government peacefully.

We reject the use of violence and destruction, either as a means of protest or as a cudgel against peaceful demonstrators.

We stand in disbelief and fury at the president’s deployment of our military against peaceful protesters.

We are enraged by the president’s unjustified forceful clearing of lawfully assembled citizens from Lafayette Park in Washington, DC.

We deplore the president’s use of a church and a Bible as a backdrop and prop for a self-aggrandizing photo opportunity.

We denounce as dangerous and absurd the Defense Secretary’s characterization of protest areas as battle spaces to be dominated. 

We endorse former Vice President Joe Biden’s statement that we are facing formidable enemies which include not only the coronavirus and the terrible impacts on Americans’ lives and livelihoods, but also the selfishness and fear that have loomed over our national life for the last three years.

We do indeed find ourselves in a battle for the soul of America.

Each person must search their heart and soul for their own response. Will we give in to the forces of anger, hatred, fear and division? Or will we reject those forces, reach out to those who are different from us, and commit to move forward together as a nation?

Those of us in the Polk County Democratic Party have made our decision. We will continue to embrace diversity, address the wrongs of the past, seek to understand one another, support constructive change, and do our part to form a more perfect union. If you feel the same way, we invite you to join us.

by Andy Millard, Polk Dems Chair

Despite dealing with a giant monkey wrench in the form of a tiny coronavirus, the North Carolina Democratic Party has put together a plan for all 100 counties to hold secure virtual conventions on Saturday, April 25. Here are the details for our event:

• Our convention will be held from 9:00am to 11:00am.
• The convention will be held as a Zoom meeting.
• While I will chair the convention, the Zoom "host" will be Kristen Gardner, a NCDP staff member.
• The agenda is brief. We will elect delegates to the district and state conventions, and we'll also elect members to three local executive committees.
• We will also see brief videos from some of our statewide candidates.
• We have 20 official delegates for the county convention.
• Pat Salomon has talked with each delegate and has registered them for the Zoom meeting.

If you are not one of the 20 voting delegates but would still like to attend the convention, you're more than welcome! In order to preserve the security of the event, we're not publishing the Zoom link online. So just click here to email me, identify yourself and ask for the link. I'll send it to you and you'll be ready to go!

​~Andy