Some talking points for when you’re registering voters and encouraging people to vote:
Why vote?
- Vote for your future. Worried about the cost of housing, food, gas, cars, health care? Worried about women’s rights, climate crisis, LGTBQ+ rights, immigration, corruption? Worried about everything? Vote for leaders that are committed to solving these problems for you and for future generations.
- Vote for your community. Diverse communities tend to face particularly challenging issues: racial profiling by law enforcement, gentrification and housing affordability, unsafe workplaces, segregated public schools, immigration raids. These issues will only be addressed equitably when supportive voices are at the table. That means turning out to vote and supporting candidates that understand the community and the issues we all face.
- Vote for those who can’t. Most of us know someone whose immigration status doesn’t allow them to vote. But they still deserve a voice in our government. If you are eligible to vote, vote for those who can’t but need leaders who care about them.
- Vote for progress in this country. Now more than ever our country is taking away hard won rights—the rights of Black and Brown Americans to equal representation, the rights of our children to a good and equitable education, the rights of all of us to high quality and affordable healthcare, the right to have elected officials who work for us and not for themselves. Now more than ever, we need to elect officials who care about our health, safety, and well-being.
- Because if you don’t, others will. Maybe you’re not that into politics, but guess what? Your boss is. Your landlord is. Your insurance company is. And every day they’re using political power to keep your pay low, raise your rent, and deny you coverage. When you don’t vote, decisions will get made that affect you, but you won’t have a say.
And this:
Why Vote?
#1. Voting impacts the future
Voting for things you believe in does matter. When people organize around an issue and make their voices heard, society changes. Even in smaller local races your vote can have a huge impact, impacting your everyday life. Sometimes local races are determined by just a few votes where your vote could change the outcome of the election. In the US, one person gets one vote. It may feel like your vote doesn’t matter. You may think, “What can one person do to change the future?” But you can, with your vote.
#2. Voting rights are under threat, and voting can help protect them
Even after years of positive change, voting rights are still under threat. Things like gerrymandering, which is the redrawing of district lines to favor one party over the other, and stricter eligibility requirements are undemocratic, and are happening right now. Voting rights are threatened by misinformation, election interference, and intimidation of elected officials. Everyone eligible should take advantage of their right to vote and make it clear they want their representatives to protect voting rights.
#3. Voting is an important tool for civic engagement
Civic engagement is participating in activities intended to improve the quality of life in one’s community. That includes political activities like voting, as well as non-political activities like volunteering at non-profits, food banks, or determining where your tax dollars are going to for services in your community such as police and fire departments, parks, plowing roads, even garbage collection.
# 4 Voting holds politicians accountable
Politicians often get a bad rap with good reason. Some only enter the government for money, power, business connections and other perks. Before an election you can make it clear that you won’t vote for a politician unless they take certain actions on issues you care about.
#5. Many experts -and voters- believe the future of democracy is at stake
Democracy is never a guarantee, but it has become a central issue for the United States in recent years. According to the Brookings Institution, democratic erosion has two main sources: election manipulation and executive overreach. The ongoing attempts to undermine the results of the 2020 election is the clearest example.
#6. Top issues continue to be on the ballot
What’s important to you? Some of the key issues, in addition to voting rights, that continue to be top of mind for voters going into the mid-term election include:
Cost of living (food and housing)
Cost & quality of healthcare
Immigration
Reproductive Rights
LGBTQ+ Rights
Climate crisis
What are the issues and values most important to you? Your vote makes them known and is the easiest way to bring about the change you need!
WE ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN AFFECT CHANGE AND VOTING IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DUTIES WE HAVE AS AMERICANS.
Voter turnout in Indiana is terrible. YOU can be the change we need!
