Voice Your Vote: Empowering One Voter at a Time
In 2004, Phi Theta Kappa launched Voice Your Vote, a voter awareness campaign aimed at increasing the number of registered voters on community college campuses. Phi Theta Kappa chapters reported registering over 13,000 new voters and educating almost 70,000 people. Now, 2006 is shaping up to be another important year in American politics.
Mid-term elections are on the horizon, and many key issues are at the forefront of voters' minds, such as immigration reform and the war in Iraq. However, do we know about the other issues - issues that may not make the headlines of USA TODAY or CNN?
Just as local chapters establish the foundation for Phi Theta Kappa as an effective and respected organization both nationally and abroad, local politics have set and continue to impact the foundation of national politics. For this reason, citizens must be aware of both what they see on the evening news or on the front page of the paper, and what is happening in their local political arenas.
The amount of information that we receive through television and print media often makes it difficult to find community-specific topics, but only after we sift through the information and learn about the issues unique to our communities can we increase our political I.Q. Voice Your Vote can be a tool to help you learn about the issues and leaders impacting your community.
Voice Your Vote Resources
Local News Sources: There are a multitude of hot topics in every state, and chances are good that they have an impact in your community. Learn about California's drug treatment initiative, the legal dispute over judgeship in Florida, or Georgia's voter identification law. Links to local news sources are updated daily on the Voice Your Vote website.
Legislator Information: To make informed decisions at the voting booth, it is vital that you are familiar with the candidates' history and political views. Through Voice Your Vote, you can locate information on over 40,000 elected officials and candidates seeking office. View past voting records and see the candidates' positions on key issues. Voice Your Vote offers access to both state and federal election resources.
Active Legislation: Access the most up-to-date information from Capitol Hill in Washington. Read the minutes for the day's session, learn what issues will be debated for the week, or search for current legislation dealing with topics of interest to you.
Create awareness in your chapter and on your campus about the issues affecting your community. The responsibility rests with each of us to search out answers and form opinions that will lead to informed decisions in the voting booth on Election Day. For more information about Voice Your Vote, contact Chapter Programs Coordinator Garon Tate at 601.984.3555.
