Want to Vote in 2026? Make Sure You Have This
Passports aren't just useful in protecting yourself from fascists and weirdos, in America, you need them to vote now too.
As we get rolling, we're going to recommend a series of books.
Today I'm going to mention a book you've probably heard about a bunch by now, which is Timothy Snyder's On Tyranny.
If you're not familiar with this book, the Trinity Killer can be seen above reading key excerpts from it.
Privacy Tip: Get Your Passport
The fact that most Americans do not have passports has become a problem for American democracy. Sometimes Americans say that they do not need travel documents, because they prefer to die defending freedom in America. These are fine words, but they miss an important point. The fight will be a long one. Even if it does require sacrifice, it first demands sustained attention to the world around us, so that we know what we are resisting, and how best to do so. So having a passport is not a sign of surrender. On the contrary, it is liberating, since it creates the possibility of new experiences. It allows us to see how other people, sometimes wiser than we, react to similar problems. Since so much of what is happening now is familiar to the rest of the world or from recent history, we must observe and listen. - Timothy Snyder
You'll hear us reference Snyder's book quite a bit. It's foundational to the philosophy behind Stupid Sexy Privacy.
And as you can see, one of the items Snyder discusses is the importance of having a passport. Something only half of all Americans have.
As we spend more time together, you're going to hear us talk about the importance of having a passport, how to utilize it to protect your privacy and safety, and why they're so important in light of laws like the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.
If you're not familiar with the SAVE Act, we recommend you read the write-up on it here, provided by the Center for American Progress.
If you want to make sure you can vote without hassle in the 2026 midterm elections, a passport is your ticket to do so.
So, how do you get one?
You can also download the required DS-11 Form here, or obtain it at your local Post Office. That's what I did in researching this article.
Whenever possible, we will always push you to do things offline. That's one way to keep yourself safe from fascists and weirdos.
So, if you stop into your local Post Office, you may find they have the DS-11 Form you need, take the required photos, and can process your passport application.
If they don't, they can recommend the nearest one that does.
Any chance you get, you should support the United States Postal Service.
These post offices are vital cogs in our community, and we should fight to keep them open. Part of that fight is to use their services whenever possible.
If you watched the John Lithgow video, you'll hear him read Timothy Snyder's point about picking an institution to support. The institution I choose to support is the United States Postal Service.
To find your nearest passport processing center, you can also call 1-877-487-2778 or visit Travel.State.Gov.
To find the nearest Post Office, you can use this tool.
There are going to be times where we recommend you obfuscate your real name and real address. This isn't one of them. Fill out the required information as accurately and honestly as possible.
But ...
There may be unique circumstances where you want to take advantage of a Personal Mail Box, which could be used in lieu of your actual physical address on forms like the DS-11.
This is something we'll spend time talking about later.
For now, and for most people:
-Gather the documents you need
-Get your Passport Photo taken.
-Pay the fee for both the Passport Book AND the Passport Card. This will run about $200.
-And get this processed ASAP.
Do not wait. You want to get this done as soon as you can.
-BJ
