Make sure your voice is heard
Election Day is only a few short weeks away. Around the country, millions will be going to the polls to choose membesr of Congress, governors, local officials and to vote on ballot measures affecting their states and cities. Civic participation is at the core of the democratic process, but participation in mid-term elections has been abysmal, with only 40% of registered voters turning out to have their voices heard.
In order to keep our democracy healthy, we need to increase turnout, and ensure our families and friends are voting with us. One of the best ways that we can do this is to make is clearly visible -- which is why polling places hand out "I voted" stickers on Election Day. You can help get your friends to the polls by signing our voting pledge, and sharing the message about your plans to vote with your friends. Once voting becomes visible, and people see how many of their friends are preparing to vote, they will be vastly more likely to make plans themselves to turn out and cast a ballot.
Take the pledge to vote today, and let your friends know that you will be making your voice heard!
In society today, we have plenty of opportunities to exercise our consumer muscles -- most of the interactions we have with new people each day are commercial transactions -- that we start to think of ourselves as consumers, not citizens. This has a devastating effect on our democracy and our lives -- we see other people not as neighbors or fellow citizens, but as people we're paying to do things for us. By reducing our relationships to monetary transactions, we are replacing an essential component of society and alienating ourselves from others. By taking a stand for voting, you can flex your Citizen Muscles and help those around you do the same. Together, we will all make a stronger democracy.