On the cover, from
left, Ryan Mayer,
Leah Mayer, and
Terrell Frerichs ride
the CSEA float in
the Buffalo Labor
Day parade. Photo
by John Normile.
No matter what you do on Election Day on Nov. 8, get out and vote!
Every election is important, but this year’s state and federal elections will literally determine the direction in which our nation moves, including the future of collective bargaining.
CSEA has made endorsements in many elections. While we support these candidates, we also respect that your vote is your choice. Just get out and vote!
But to elect these candidates, we need to vote. Here are a few ways, through progressive political website Americablog.com and some of our own tips:
- Register to vote. If you are unsure of whether you are registered, or if your address or name has recently changed, check with your local Board of Elections or visit the New York State Board of Elections website at elections.ny.gov.
- Make a plan to vote, and urge others to do so. Think about your plan to vote on Election Day, including planning a time to visit the polls, finding your polling place and making a plan to vote for your chosen candidates. Like anything else important during your day, schedule your voting time (write it down or text it to yourself, if that works). If you know you will be unable to get to the polls, apply for an absentee ballot. Finally, ask others what time they plan to vote.
- Join the (voting) party. While our ballots are of course private, people are ultimately joiners and voting is no exception. Bring a family member, friend or co-worker to the polls. Americasblog.com has noted that when people hear that turnout will be high, they are more likely to vote because they know their families, friends, co-workers and neighbors are voting. Plus, wouldn’t you want to be where the action is?
- Help out and talk with someone. CSEA is helping many of our endorsed candidates across the state get out the vote. Making phone calls and literature drops are important, but your best chance of getting someone to actually go to the polls? Face-to-face conversations. Americasblog has noted that for every 14 face-to-face conversations a campaign has with a voter, that campaigns gets a vote that would not have been cast otherwise.
- Your vote counts. Some voters may be tempted to avoid the polls out of frustration with candidates or apathy, but in the end, your vote counts. One recent state Senate election was decided by 18 votes.
