The 2020 election has started. Do you want to make sure your vote counts when you go to the polls? Sign this petition and tell your Chief Election Official to ensure that elections are secure and accessible, registrations are processed, and your vote is counted. The chaos of voting in Iowa this week caused voters to be confused and doubt their votes would count. The voter suppression in 2018 in Georgia was an election robbed. That is no way to run a democracy. This is a warning to elections officials nationwide: turnout in the 2020 elections will be high and the world is watching. We can blame the Iowa caucus problem on bad technology. But the decision-makers who run elections in other states can avoid such a mess. Election officials must do everything in their power to make sure new tech is working and establish solid back up plans if it fails, well before the first voters head to the polls. 2020 is the election of our lifetime. Turnout will be high. Our democracy may hinge on a single principle: If polls aren't prepared, our voices aren't heard. We can act now to make sure every voter can cast a ballot that counts. This year, voters will be casting ballots on new voting machines for the first time. They'll be voting by mail for the first time. They'll be registering online for the first time. Election officials: don't wait. Act now to make sure those systems have solid backup plans, thorough testing, and paper backups so every voter is heard. Please join with us and demand that your Chief Election Official prepares for the 2020 election, so that every vote can make their voice heard.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is for people who have “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." Rush Limbaugh has only been a divisive media host.

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“Were I to ignore the evidence that has been presented and disregard what I believe my oath and the Constitution demands of me for the sake of a partisan end, it would -- I fear -- expose my character to history’s rebuke and the censure of my own conscience.” - Senator Mitt Romney Before the Senate’s impeachment trial began, every senator took an oath to serve as an impartial juror -- and put the rule of law before any external political pressures. The majority of senators violated that oath the moment they voted to acquit President Trump -- giving him the green light to abuse his power as long as he remains in office. But some -- including Senator Romney of Utah, Senator Jones of Alabama, Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, and Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia -- took a courageous stand. By voting to convict Trump, they set aside political calculations and their own self-interest to do what’s right -- and defend the American values that we hold dear. Trump and his supporters are sure to launch vicious attacks against these senators for prioritizing their constitutional duty. That’s why they need to hear an outpouring of support from everyday Americans who applaud their commitment to ensuring no one is above the law. Add your name to tell Senator Romney, Senator Jones, Senator Sinema, and Senator Manchin: thank you for putting your country first and holding President Trump accountable.

As an Iowan, I have enjoyed the privilege of being the first test for presidential candidates. Now, it is time for a more diverse state to take on the challenge. The United States has become more diverse since Iowa became first in the nation in 1972, and the Democratic Party has hailed itself as the party of diversity. We must hold a nominating contest that embraces and reflects that diversity. Those who defend Iowa’s first-in-the-nation status argue that Iowans are educated voters who ask hard questions. They point out that candidates visit our rural communities, small businesses, and farms. But vetting candidates is not an innate talent; it is a skill. Farms and small businesses exist across the country. Inevitably, these same things would come to happen in Michigan or Pennsylvania if they went first. I am proud to have served as a precinct chair this year. The caucuses are a wonder to behold. Attendees can go in with a strong preference for one candidate and find themselves aligned with another after talking with their friends and neighbors. But the unfortunate reality is that caucuses are not accessible to everyone — particularly individuals with disabilities, shift workers, parents of young children, and the elderly. In Iowa, people of color are significantly more likely to encounter the obstacles to participation that make the caucuses so inaccessible. This means that our most marginalized communities are further marginalized by the voting process. We must move the first primary contest to a state where a more diverse set of people with diverging perspectives can vet the candidates.

The Senate has voted to acquit Donald Trump -- giving him and future presidents a green light to abuse their power and put themselves above the law. No new evidence admitted. No witnesses called. No due process. It’s clear that Senate Republicans never wanted all the facts -- because they knew those facts would show that Trump is guilty. Trump’s acquittal comes despite the damning testimony against him from multiple career public servants... despite his defenders’ repeatedly disproven lies... and despite 75% of Americans wanting to hear from additional witnesses before the Senate voted. Simply put: Trump’s enablers know he is guilty. And they know that their constituents still have unanswered questions. But they just don’t care. Americans nationwide are outraged, and we’re not backing down. We’ll keep fighting for a just democracy, even if these senators won’t -- and we’ll hold any representative who puts themselves above the law accountable. Add your name to condemn the Senate’s sham trial -- and to decry those Republican senators who have failed their constituents, their constitutional duty, and their country by voting to acquit President Trump.

It will take all of us to defeat Trump and the Republicans -- but it's clear for the good of the country and the world, we have to. A majority of Americans want him removed, now let's get out there to make sure they all vote on November 3.

He is a traitor to the great tribe of Cherokee Nation

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Without proper regulatory oversight, SD becomes a safe haven for untrained and unqualified practitioners. Patients deserve the right to know that their practitioners have proper training, education, professional ethics, board certification, and ongoing training that ensures that they receive the highest quality care. Acupuncture has been proven to be an effective and affordable treatment option for chronic pain, opioid use/abuse, PTSD/depression/anxiety, and acute pain conditions. The practice of acupuncture is currently being utilized within the Department of Defense, the Veterans Administration, large medical centers, and, most recently, has been adopted into Medicare coverage for the treatment of chronic low back pain. In South Dakota, the VA Healthcare System has already contracted with several private acupuncture practices around the state for many years to provide quality, non-pharmacological treatment to thousands of veterans in need. In states that have recently adopted acupuncture practice acts, the state has seen a nearly immediate increase in the number of professional acupuncturists moving to the state and contributing to commerce, as well as expanding access to treatment for the residents. Acupuncture regulation is good for state economic growth and development, as well as direct patient care. Please tell SD legislators that it is time to save South Dakota acupuncture!

Our democracy is at stake.

The fiasco created by the Iowa caucuses could be just a preview of what’s to come -- if we don’t get serious about securing our election systems right now. Caucus-goers tried to make their voices heard, showing up and speaking out for the presidential candidate they believe in. But the night quickly devolved into chaos -- as officials tried to use a new, untested app to report the results. Precinct leaders struggled to use the app. Many hadn’t been trained on it at all. And as a result, nobody could be certain that their vote was going to count. The only thing that prevented a complete electoral disaster? Tried-and-true paper ballots, which election officials could recount by hand. As other states gear up for their primary elections, we must pressure election officials to implement the strong, simple solutions that protect our democracy: paper trails and risk-limiting audits. Anything run on a computer can be hacked or experience glitches -- so these backups are essential to make sure the final results are accurate. Add your name to tell election officials nationwide: if we can’t count on you to conduct elections that are free, fair, and accurate -- then we don’t have a real democracy anymore. Every election must include paper ballots and risk-limiting audits.