What do cryptids have to do with voting? Uh, a lot actually (at least in our humble opinion).
We took the time to highlight and showcase each state’s most famous cryptids, creatures that many claim to exist yet haven’t actually been proven true (….yet) and why they want YOU to vote in this upcoming election.
Unfortunately, voting can be confusing and each state has its own deadlines regarding when you can register, send in your ballot, present a certain type of identification, etc. So, it truly warms our hearts that these cryptids are unionizing with the goal to educate Appalachians on how to vote! We hope you find this voting guide easy-to-use and we encourage you to share with your friends! The Halloween season along these lurking cryptids are spooky enough, so there’s no need to add low voter turnout to the equation!
West Virginia– The Mothman
So what’s the deal with the infamous Mothman? For non-West Virginian folks, the Mothman is a humanoid creature reportedly seen in the Point Pleasant area in West Virginia from November 15, 1966 to December 15, 1967. This legend was later popularized by John Keel in his 1975 book, “The Mothman Prophecies,” claiming that there were supernatural events related to the sightings and even a connection to the collapse of the Silver Bridge! Aha!–bridges and infrastructure, that’s something ReImagine Appalachia is familiar with.
Do we think Mothman is trying to remind us of the importance of climate infrastructure and resiliency for our communities? Is he pointing out our hubris in our lack of preparation for extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change? We all saw what happened in Pittsburgh’s Fern Hollow Bridge–was Mothman stopping by the 412 for a little day trip? Whatever his intentions, we know voting for politicians who will prioritize our blueprint to create good paying union jobs to mitigate the effects of climate change will keep Appalachians safe!
If you live in West Virginia, you can check your registration status here.
If you’re not registered to vote, register here!
Pennsylvania– Bigfoot
We all know the elusive Bigfoot–he’s been purportedly seen in nearly every state. However, he’s had some particularly peculiar encounters in Pennsylvania. The first documented account of a Bigfoot-like creature in Pennsylvania dates back to 1858 when there was a series of “wild man” sightings in Lancaster that resulted in nationwide coverage in December of that year.
Bigfoot encounters like these have purportedly continued steadily in the state ever since. The most intriguing sighting was not one of Bigfoot itself, however, but of its purported 17 and three-quarter-inch footprint. Why is Bigfoot always on the go? Want to know our guess? He’s checking out all the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps across the country and honestly, we don’t blame him, they’re pretty cool sites. In fact, Bigfoot is hoping you’ll vote so that we can put people into office who will fund CCC-like programs that encourage more CCC camps as well as natural infrastructure projects that mitigate issues such as flooding (Bigfoot isn’t a great swimmer).
If you live in Pennsylvania, you can, register to vote here.
Request your mail-in ballot here.
Ohio– The Loveland Frog
In Ohio folklore, the Loveland Frog is a legendary humanoid frog found in Loveland, Ohio standing roughly 4 feet tall. It gained renewed attraction in 1972 when a Loveland police officer reported he had seen an animal consistent with the descriptions of the Frogman.
The Frogman has been claimed to be seen under dimly lit bridges, once again emphasizing the importance of resilient infrastructure. However, the Loveland Frog is really counting on you to vote this election because frogs are especially susceptible to the effects of climate change. Amphibians such as frogs have permeable skin and lay eggs without shells, so they are extremely sensitive to biological changes and toxins. These animals provide balance to our local ecosystem, feasting on insects while providing food for invertebrates, fish, birds, snakes, raccoons, and other species. You can usually tell if your environment is in a healthy condition based on the number of frogs in your area. So if you see the Loveland Frog, you should be in good shape! Voting for politicians who take climate change seriously is crucial for our froggy friend so make sure you take action this November 8th!
If you live in Ohio, click here to check your registration status.
And click here to register to vote!
Kentucky– The Kelly “Little Green Men”
And last but certainly not least, we have the Kelly “Little Green Men.” Legend has it that on the night of August 21, 1955, The Sutton family ran to the Hopkinsville police station in southwestern Kentucky crying hysterically, claiming they encountered an alien on their tiny farmland property. There were more than a dozen people that witnessed this event that lasted several hours. The police went to the scene to investigate but saw no sign of aliens. Once the police and others left, the creatures returned between 2:30 a.m. and daybreak and Mrs. Sutton saw an alien glowing repeatedly by her bedside window, its claw-like hand on the screen.
So what does this all mean? Why did these aliens visit this small farmhouse in southwestern Kentucky? Do we think these UFOs were friendly? We at ReImagine Appalachia have our theories. For one, we think that these aliens were perhaps trying to talk to the Sutton family about regenerative agricultural practices. Aliens are ahead of us humans in many facets–science and technology being some of them–so they know what sort of practices work best. Why else would they pick a farm to visit? If the Sutton family could just compose themselves, they would know that the aliens are trying to teach them about permaculture, agroecology, agroforestry, and the natural capture of atmospheric carbon dioxide by growing plants and trees. Although not from here, these UFOs care about our planet–we hear that their spaceship is even electric! That’s why it’s important to make sure we get out to vote for elected officials who care about small rural farms!
If you live in Kentucky, click here to request a vote-by-mail ballot