You have accessThe ASHA LeaderASHA News1 Oct 2010Let Your Voice Be Heard—Vote Kate Frye Kate Frye Google Scholar More articles by this author https://doi.org/10.1044/leader.AN1.15122010.23 SectionsAbout ToolsAdd to favorites ShareFacebookTwitterLinked In As the mid-year elections approach, ASHA has mobilized its “Let Your Voice Be Heard, Vote!” campaign to help members navigate the sometimes complex political and electoral process. The legislators elected to the next Congress will face many issues critical to speech-language pathologists and audiologists, including reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and continued coverage of speech-language and hearing services. Don’t let others with competing interests take your vote for granted. ASHA members account for more than 140,000 votes across the country—a group with a powerful message to share. The right to vote, and in doing so to provide our input on the future of the country, remains one of our greatest liberties as American citizens. But many of those eligible do not vote, even in popular election years. The 2008 elections, for example, drew the largest voter turnout in history, yet still only 60% of the eligible electorate voted. Even with the balance of power in Congress up for grabs this year, the numbers of voters could drop by as much as 50% this November. Visit the Get Out The Vote section of the ASHA website for a robust library of election resources. First-time voters and seasoned campaign veterans will find information tailored to their preferred level of involvement: Don’t have a free moment to go to the polls? Find out how to get an absentee ballot. Haven’t registered to vote? Get state registration deadlines. Interested in hosting a campaign event for a candidate? Find how-to information. Things to Do Before Nov. 4 Early/Absentee Voting. Votes can be cast prior to Nov. 4 with some advanced planning. Early voting can take place remotely—such as by mail—or in person, usually in designated early voting polling stations. Requirements vary by state; visit the ASHA webpage for location-specific information. Be Informed. Visit the ASHA advocacy website to find out the individuals running for office in your jurisdiction and where the candidates stand on issues important to you. National organizations, major newspapers, and certain special interest groups also produce voter guides that highlight candidates’ positions on specific issues and may also track their legislative voting history. Volunteer. Donating your time is a great way to further your relationship with future legislators and ensure they understand the issues that matter to you. Contact a candidate’s campaign office to learn more about volunteer opportunities. Organize a group of your friends and/or colleagues for extra impact. ASHA-PAC: Your Voice in Congress ASHA is doing its part to affect the November elections in favor of the speech-language and hearing community through its political action committee. ASHA-PAC helps elect candidates to Congress who understand and support the needs of speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. In advance of the November elections, ASHA-PAC has supported more than 50 candidates through more than $200,000 in financial contributions. The PAC relies on voluntary contributions from ASHA members to continue its vital work. Look for more information about ASHA-PAC online. Author Notes Kate Frye, director of political advocacy, can be reached at [email protected]. Advertising Disclaimer | Advertise With Us Advertising Disclaimer | Advertise With Us Additional Resources FiguresSourcesRelatedDetails Volume 15Issue 12October 2010 Get Permissions Add to your Mendeley library History Published in print: Oct 1, 2010 Metrics Downloaded 96 times Topicsasha-topicsleader_do_tagleader-topicsasha-article-typesCopyright & Permissions© 2010 American Speech-Language-Hearing AssociationLoading ...