Clik here to view.
Election Day lasts just one day — a 24-hour culmination of the seemingly never-ending campaign season.
But we’ll spend the next two, four, six years living with the choices we make as a country this November 8. And the decisions made during that time by the people we elect to the White House, Congress, and state and local offices will impact all of our lives for decades to come.
We're talking everything from student-loan rates to tampon taxes to our safety as a nation.
All the more reason to prep like you haven’t done since your last set of finals.
At Refinery29, our party is women. We want to see you claim your own power in the political system — no matter if you identify as Democrat, Republican, Green, Libertarian, or none of the above.
That’s why for the 100 days leading up to November 8, we’ll be throwing up a new challenge each day to help you get informed, involved, and excited to take action on the issues that are most important to you, personally. Hopefully, you'll even have some fun while you're at it.
Democracy isn’t something that just happens — it’s something that we do. And it gives us all the power to shape our collective future. As President John F. Kennedy so perfectly put it, "One person can make a difference, but everyone should try."
So, check back each day to find out a new, easy way to be involved in the first election of the rest of your life. We know you're busy, so we promise these won't be huge time-sucks. In fact, most of the challenges will take you just a few minutes to complete.
And use the hashtag #VYV100 to share your progress and your own ideas along the way. After all, a party — political or otherwise — is no fun if it’s only you.
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Day 13
In less than three months, we'll choose the nation's next commander in chief.
In the meantime, we're giving you the opportunity to vote on which fictional White House inhabitant did it best.
Make your pick, then queue up an episode or two of one of those political shows for some pre-election viewing.
Illustrated by: Elliot Salazar.Clik here to view.
Day 12
Whether you're getting drinks with a new Tinder match, texting a crush, or spending some quality Netflix & Chill time with your S.O. this weekend, we challenge you to throw some political talk into the mix.
Maybe you'll find you're a perfect (political) match. Or maybe you'll find you have different views.
Maybe you'll even learn something from the other person's political perspective and experience.
Just like most first dates, the possibilities are endless.
Illustrated by: Elliot Salazar.Clik here to view.
Day 11
We may have a female nominee running at the top of the ticket, but women are still vastly underrepresented in multiple levels of government. Here are some stats to back up that sad reality, courtesy of the Center for American Women and Politics:
-Women represent about 19% of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, and 20% of seats in the U.S. Senate.
-Less than a quarter of state legislators nationwide are women.
-Just 19 of the 100 largest cities in the U.S. are led by female mayors.
We can't elect more women to public office if they don't run. So think of a friend who you think would be a kick-ass leader and tell her #SheShouldRun. It could be for student council or the Senate, this fall or in five years — the first step is offering encouragement and getting those political wheels turning in her mind today.
Illustrated by: Elliot Salazar.Clik here to view.
Day 10
There's no shortage of claims, stats, and attacks happening on the campaign trail these days. With so much back and forth, it's sometimes hard to know what — or whom — to believe.
Enter the independent fact-checkers. A number of fastidious journalists and organizations dedicate their days to digging into candidate claims and telling you just how true they really are.
Check out some of the verdicts yourself over at Politifact — then test a friend or two to see if they know what's really up with those things being said on the campaign trail.
Illustrated by: Elliot Salazar.Clik here to view.
Day 9
Another easy one for you today. Give your friends and social followers a peek into your political mindset by sharing a tweet, snap, Instagram or Facebook post about an issue that matters to you.
Happy sharing!
Illustrated by: Elliot Salazar.Clik here to view.
Day 8
Because we know you don’t want to add another major lift to your Monday to-do list, here's a challenge that should take five seconds or less.
Add Election Day to your calendar or planner.
That's it. Seriously.
So, flip ahead to Tuesday, November 8, and mark down your own personal reminder to vote.
See, we told you getting informed and involved in this year's election could be easy.
Illustrated by: Elliot Salazar.Clik here to view.
Day 7
Are you battling those Sunday night blues by scrolling through your friends' Facebook feeds? Tag a friend in a positive political post and get the conversation started.
To be sure, we're all sick of the massive fights that take place between friends in the comments sections of political posts. But social media can be a force for good this election cycle.
Help inspire friends and family to register to vote and make their voices heard. Just remember to keep the conversation positive, civil, and engaging.
Illustrated by: Elliot Salazar.Clik here to view.
Day 6
We've all heard a friend, family member, (or even the little voice inside our own heads), say it at some point this election cycle: "If he/she wins, I'm moving to Canada!"
But before you pack that go-bag, read two Canadians' opinions about the benefits (and drawbacks) of heading north.
And if you're serious about moving, Canadian writer Jess Kwong recommends you start practicing using words like "garburator" instead of "garbage disposal" and "chesterfield" instead of "couch." Oh, and don't be offended by the milk options in Canadian grocery stores: "homo milk" is an abbreviation for "homogenized milk."
Illustrated by: Elliot Salazar.Clik here to view.
Day 5
It's Friday, Friday, Friday, and time for some positive vibes amid all the rancor of the campaigns.
You meditated on day 3, so now it's time for some visualization. What does your perfect America look like?
Is it a place where men also rally behind a woman's right to safe and legal abortion? Is it a place where candidates from both parties support LGBTQ rights? Do you imagine living in a country where paid family leave is the law, not a perk?
Zeroing in on the issues that matter to you is the first step to making an informed decision at the ballot box this fall. So take some time to brainstorm what kind of country you want to call home in 2017 and beyond.
Illustrated by: Elliot Salazar.Clik here to view.
Day 4
Glass = shattered.
Hillary Clinton is making history this year as the first female nominee for a major political party. But she's not the only woman running for the White House this year.
Jill Stein, a doctor and longtime political activist, is the presumptive nominee for the Green Party this year (that's expected to become official in early August). And the MD's progressive platform appears to be the fix for some voters still #FeelingTheBern after Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' exit from the race.
Interested in learning more? We've got you covered with this primer that breaks down everything you need to know about the White House hopeful.
Illustrated by: Elliot Salazar.Clik here to view.
Day 3
It's been (yet another) crazy week on the campaign trail.
All the rancor and debate can be a total downer — and turnoff — when it comes to getting engaged in politics.
So, take a few minutes today to tune out the noise and clear your head. You can check out R29's handy guide to getting started with meditation if you need some tips or inspiration.
Hopefully adding a little Zen to your life will leave you feeling energized and ready to take action on the issues that matter to you.
Illustrated by: Elliot Salazar.Clik here to view.
Day 2
By now, you're probably pretty familiar with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. They've each been (officially) running for president for well over a year.
But the two candidates for the White House's No. 2 gig have been at it for less than a month.
So, who are the respective VP picks, Republican Mike Pence and Democrat Tim Kaine?
TL;DR: Both are white dudes in their 50s who have been in politics for a looong time.
If you're looking (and we hope you are) for a bit more background, we've broken down the things you'll want to know about each vice presidential hopeful.
Click the links below to get to know the candidates in less time than it takes to watch this montage of the best Veep insults.
Need An Introduction To Mike Pence? We Have You Covered
4 Things You Need To Know Abot Tim Kaine
Illustrated by: Elliot Salazar.Clik here to view.
Day 1
First things first: You can't cast a ballot unless you're registered to vote.
Yes, we know the election is still three-plus months away. Technically, you have plenty of time to make sure that voter registration is completed and up-to-date.
But why put it off when you can get your registration sorted out in less time than it takes to choose the perfect filter for your next snap?
If you're not sure of your status — or, whether you are registered at your current address — you can check it out using CanIVote.org's handy lookup tool. It took one R29 reporter just 18 seconds start to finish to confirm that hers was valid and up-to-date.
If you aren't registered yet, we have options for you! You can download a form at CanIVote.org, or find out whether your state is one of 31 (plus Washington, D.C.!) that will let you do the whole thing online.
Rock the Vote is another great resource that makes registering to vote a super-quick and painless process.
So, whether it's over breakfast, during your lunch break, or paired with a glass of rosé tonight, take a few minutes to cross this vital task off your to-do list.
At the very least, it's one less thing to worry about for the next 100 days.
Illustrated by: Elliot Salazar.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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