post election update:

THANK YOU for raising $1000 in donations for the malaria consortium!! (To be clear, I will be donating all of the money raised to charity — I have the financial means to cover the original flight out of pocket) Hopefully, our donation can create some small change in a world that feels increasingly chaotic.

Sadly, my flight home did not make a large difference in the final electoral outcome. Still, I believe in the importance of civic duty. Seeing how everyone rallied to support me and others in this election reinforces that conviction.

I’m not a victim here - I’m lucky to have the support and means to fly home the morning of an election. My privilege will shield me from the worst harms of the electoral outcome. Millions of people in war-torn countries, women in red states, immigrants, and less fortunate communities do not have that same luxury.

Voting is our obligation to advocate for a future we hope to see, but it’s also not the only mechanism by which to create change. Maybe I lost some faith in our political system, but I’ve gained faith in humanity.

Randomly, our story was also featured in the NYT. I hope this reporting may bring some awareness to the flawed voting system in this country

If you still have a few dollars to spare, please consider donating to my fundraiser (or another organization you believe in). I will match all donations in the next 24 hours (unless you make me hit an upper limit which would be cool).

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Update: woke up to $425 raised in 8hours, let’s goooo! You guys are amazing

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Original post:

HELP ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT PAYING FOR A VERY EXPENSIVE FLIGHT FROM CHICAGO BACK TO PA TO VOTE LAST MINUTE BY DONATING TO CHARITY!! My goal is to donate the cost of my flights

my journey =

2 months since my application

3 ballot requests mailed

1 undeliverable ballot

3 denials for duplicate requests

5 emails to the country election office

3 calls to the county declined

1 call to the state attorney office

2 calls to the pa democrats voter hotline

2 cancel and replace forms sent in

1 stupid ballot delivered to Chicago less than 24h before election

1 almost suppressed voter

1 last minute flight booked

2 classes missed

1 unhappy camper

THE SHOW MUST GO ON