Judy Howard’s Post

We are in an important election year in the US. We have been bombarded by Ads and rhetoric and angry neighbors. It's a stressful time. I am not going to tout my beliefs here, because it doesn't matter. What matters most is that we VOTE! There is a misnomer that one vote doesn't matter, but it DOES! Below are just a few statistics regarding the slim margins and the fact that EACH VOTE makes a difference! *From 1976 to January 5, 2021, more than 85 U.S. Senate elections were decided by less than 3 percent of all votes cast. *From 1976 to 2022, more than 410 U.S. House elections were decided by less than 3 percent of all votes cast. *In the year 2016 alone, more than 340 state office elections were decided by fewer than 500 votes; of those, more than 85 were determined by fewer than 100 votes. *Although the data analyzed for this report did not cover local elections, local elections often come down to exceptionally slim margins. For example, in November 2021, 18 local elections in Ohio—12 candidate races and six local measures—ended in a tie. I've also heard from many friends that they will cast their vote for everyone BUT the President. DON'T do that! Make a choice, one that you feel will serve the PEOPLE of our Country the best. Citizens fought for years for our RIGHT to Vote, don't take it for granted.

Elections have started - some jurisdictions are early voting, some voting by mail, and some waiting for Election Day. How we vote has a uniqueness to it for each jurisdiction. We need a collective understanding that the timing of the final tally is just as varied as the different starts of a election. Patience and understanding that elections are free and the results are fair is important for all of us. https://lnkd.in/gAx3iF7v

Let's discuss "top two" elections - a proposal being considered in Rhode Island this year. The idea behind top two elections is an open primary where only the top two vote-getters make the November ballot. Backers of top two elections are trying to solve the "problem" of winners receiving less than 50% of the vote. A "top two" election does not confer a meaningful "mandate" when the majority vote is only achievable in a general election with a contrived scheme. The reality, where only a plurality of votes is attainable in a regular election, is that the winner does not have a mandate. In an era where "elections have consequences," a winning candidate with only a plurality of the vote should not be encouraged to govern as if that candidate won by a landslide with a contrived voting mechanism. Worse, with a top-two voting scheme, emerging candidates and parties will never have their message heard by most voters since primaries generally have miserable voter engagement relative to general elections. New options get snuffed in the primaries, with most voters never knowing those options exist. We live in an era where more options are needed on the ballot, not fewer. A binary choice of two candidates who do not appeal to a voter sets up a "lesser of two evils" choice for many voters - a miserable reason to vote for someone. #Disproven

Elections: Can’t live with ‘em; Don’t wanna live without ‘em Here in the United States of America, election day is November 5th. If you are registered, you might consider participating in the whole “We the People,” democratic republic thing. Actually about 88% of US citizens who are registered to vote, do actually vote. So if you’re in that 12% that is registered and doesn’t usually vote, this might be the year your vote might make a difference. Make a plan to vote. What continues to amaze me is that less than 70% of those eligible to vote are actually registered to vote, which means that only about 60% of those eligible to vote actually vote here. That sets some kind of dismal record for democracies around the world. If you are in the 31% that isn’t registered, and you want to, sorry,in a lot of the country, I’m afraid you are too late, not happening this year. If you live in these states there is still time to register (listed with the last day for in-person registration. Look here for mail and online: https://lnkd.in/eiPPb2sj ) Alabama: October 21 California: October 21 Colorado: November 5 Hawaii: November 5 Iowa: October 21 Massachusetts: November 1 Michigan: October 28 Montana: November 4 Nebraska: October 24 New Hampshire: November 5 North Dakota: November 5 with valid ID Pennsylvania October 21 South Dakota: October 21 Utah: November 1 Vermont: November 5 Washington (state): October 29 Wisconsin: November 1 Wyoming: October 22 Oh yeah, and once you register, VOTE. You can still complain about politics if you don’t vote, but I, for one, will feel less inclined to listen sympathetically. ☹

#NOon140 If passed by voters, The Make Elections (Un)Fair Act would do the following for future Arizona elections: Allows one politician, the Arizona Secretary of State, to decide how many candidates qualify for the general election ballot for every single contest, including his or her own race. Would result in some races where candidates from only one political party appear on the general election ballot. Would force voters to navigate two completely different voting systems on the same ballot, with some races requiring voters to rank candidates and others that do not. Will increase tabulation errors, create longer lines at the polls, and significantly delay election results. https://lnkd.in/gv--9sa6

How much does your vote matter? Elections often include a variety of issues on the ballot, ranging from federal to state and local matters. Local elections can be particularly impactful, as they often involve decisions on tax rate increases, spending proposals, and additional regulations. Each vote in these elections can have a significant impact on the outcome. #Vote #BusinessAdvocacy #GeneralElection

For the Salt River Project (SRP) elections in April, obtaining a ballot typically involves registering for the election if you're eligible. SRP elections are unique because they are not conducted by county election offices. Instead, they are managed directly by SRP. You can request a mail-in ballot from SRP online: https://lnkd.in/g5pNpKku Here's a general guide on how you can get a ballot: Check Eligibility: SRP's elections are usually for customers or landowners within the SRP service area. Make sure you fall within the criteria set by SRP for voting. Voter Registration: If you're not already registered to vote in SRP elections, you would need to do so. Registration often requires you to provide proof of property ownership or utility service in the SRP area. Request a Ballot: For SRP elections, you might need to specifically request a ballot. This can often be done through SRP's website or by contacting their election office directly. Mail-in Voting: SRP typically uses a mail-in voting system for its elections. Once you're registered and have requested a ballot, it should be mailed to you. Stay Informed: Keep an eye on SRP's official communications and website for specific details about the election, including key dates for voter registration and ballot submission. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, visit SRP's official website or contact their customer service. They will provide detailed instructions relevant to the upcoming election.

Lobby lessons from the EU elections - Clear objectives, planning and agility is the key The elections are over and Brussels has entered its next dynamic phase, where all the key appointments and the policy focus for the next legislature is negotiated. While one waits for the dust to settle, it’s important to also capture learnings from this campaign period. The next elections are a few years away, but it will always feel sooner than expected. 1. Know what you want to achieve. Many things change in the political arena following an election, both in terms of people and policies. By knowing which changes are the most important for your issues and having done a feasibility analysis, you can better understand how to make an impact. As the cat said to Alice in Wonderland, if you don’t know where you are going it doesn’t matter which path you take. 2. Start early. While the public campaign only really lasts for a month or so leading up to the election date, the work behind the scenes starts well over a year in advance and many of the most important decisions in terms of election promises and political focus areas are taken then. 3. Put your topics on the agenda before the campaign period. Manifestos and campaign pledges are made up of issues that politicians and strategists identify on the road leading up to the elections, not at the last moment. By making sure your issues are top of mind when manifestos are written, the chance of them being covered increases significantly. 4. Understand the public interest. Elections are all about winning votes, by understanding how politicians can become winners by making pledges on your topics, you can present a strong case. Issues nobody cares about are not vote winners, no matter their importance. 5. Campaigns are agile. Once things start to move in the public domain, they move fast, very fast. By making sure your organization can quickly capture opportunities, or mitigate risks, you set the foundations for the difference between a big score and a big fail.

Every week until Election Day, ICOY will provide resources for young voters beginning with information on voter registration. To vote in the upcoming 2024 elections, voters must be 17 years old to register as long as they turn 18 on or before the date of the General Election (11/5/2024). 16-year-olds may now also pre-register to vote online with their application held in abeyance until voting age. Below is more information on how to register and the deadlines to remember: Voters can fill out an online registration application here until Sunday, October 20th. Voters can also register by mail by Tuesday, October 8th by following the process as outlined here. Voters may also register in person at the office of the election authority under the guidelines of grace period registration if they miss the registration deadline. Additionally, voters may be interested in a Vote by Mail ballot. To request a mail ballot, check out the Voting by Mail Application from the Illinois State Board of Elections. For more information on voter services, please visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website: https://lnkd.in/egdPrm2. #youthvote #youthvoice #yourvotematters #election2024

It's Election Day for voters across the state! Voters head to the polls for the June 18 Primary Election. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters are reminded that Oklahoma has modified closed primaries, so not every voter in every precinct will have an election. In order to vote in party's primary election, you must be a registered voter of that party. However, state law provides all recognized parties the opportunity to open its primary elections to Independents. For the 2024-2025 election years, the Democratic Party has opened its primaries to registered Independents. The Republican and Libertarian parties have chosen to keep their primaries closed. Independent voters wishing to vote a Democratic ballot should let the poll worker know when they check in at their polling place. More information about primary elections is available on the State Election Board website. As a reminder, there are local elections on the ballot in some precincts. All voters, regardless of party affiliation, may participate in nonpartisan elections.