United State of Fashion: Willy Chavarria
“I’m voting because our future is at stake, and I’ve seen what hate and destruction can do through a dictatorship, and I want us to win the fight for human freedom.”
The potential impact of this year’s Presidential election has made it so that staying silent is no longer an option, or in style. Continuing our “V is for Vote” series that launched back in 2020, V returns with its latest edition as photography duo Inez & Vinoodh gathered 17 of the boldest American designers from our fashion community to tell us why voting to preserve democracy is the absolute most important thing you can do this season. Throw on that cerulean sweater and get ready, because V is hitting the polls!
“Vote with your heart and vote with your studied intelligence. My first time voting was for Barack Obama. It was the first time I felt overwhelming pride to be an American citizen. I’ve followed politics ever since. I see the fragility of democracy. I’m voting to protect women’s rights to own their own bodies. I’m voting to build the middle class. I’m voting for the freedom to drink clean water. I’m voting for the freedom to love my husband and not be criminalized for it. I’m voting to make the wealthy pay fair taxes. I’m voting for Medicare for all—so we don’t have anymore family or friends dying from not having healthcare coverage. I’m voting to fight global warming and save farmworkers who are working in 118-degree weather harvesting our food. I’m voting for gun laws to stop the disgusting school shootings and public mass murders that have become a signature of this country. I’m voting for the freedom to live a decent and prosperous life. I’m voting because I enjoy the rights I have as a brown, queer, married man with women in my life. I’m voting because our future is at stake, and I’ve seen what hate and destruction can do through a dictatorship, and I want us to win the fight for human freedom. I don’t want to live in a country led by hate and White Supremacy. So quite simply, I am voting for Kamala. If she doesn’t win, we are truly fucked. It’s a very black and white situation. If Trump wins, we can say goodbye to the idea of America as we have been taught to know it. It is the end so to speak. This is not in any way an exaggeration. Simply look into what he stands for. If Kamala takes the lead, the country has a future to continue the incredible path for progress that we have made, even over the past 50 years!”
—Willy Chavarria
Ready To Vote? Make Your Plan!
Register to vote & check your registration status!
Whether you just turned 18 or it has been a while since you voted, it’s always best to check your registration status by clicking here. If you are ready to register as a first-time voter, take the exciting step here by clicking here.
See What’s On Your Ballot!
It’s always best to preview a list of candidates for Federal, State, and Local offices to understand who and what will be on your ballot in this upcoming election. To see what will appear on the ballot, click here.
Check your poll opening & closing times!
Remember, voting is your constitutional right, so on Election Day (November 5), find a time that works best for you as poll times vary by state and county, so check with your local polling station.
Here’s what identification you should bring to VOTE!
Certain states hold strict voting laws about what sort of ID you need, as some require simple photo ID and some are more lenient, so double check to find your state’s guidelines on identification, and make sure to bring those with you on Election Day (November 5).
Wait Times & Other Issues
On Election Day (November 5), arriving early and checking wait times online is crucial to avoid waiting in line too long. But in the chance that the polls close while you are waiting in line, you still have a right to cast your ballot and make this known. If anyone tries to turn you away at the polls (or you witness anyone else attempting to discourage you or others from voting), you can report it to the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-687-8683.
If there are any issues with your ballot, ask for help to fix any problem at the polls rather than leaving and coming back. Leaving or stepping out of your place in line could affect when you’re able to vote.
Not in town? Consider Absentee Voting!
To request your absentee ballot, you can complete this application online. Absentee ballot deadlines vary state by state, so double-check the deadlines, dates, and rules for your state when voting by mail.
Photography Inez & Vinoodh
Creative Director / Editor-in-Chief Stephen Gan
Production John Nadhazi / Michael Gleeson (VLM Productions)
Lighting director Jodokus Driessen (VLM Studio)
Studio Manager / Art Director Marc Kroop (VLM Studio)
Digital technician Brian Anderson
Location Pier59 Studios
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