The 2024 Elections: It's Time to Mobilize

You have probably heard that democracy is on the ballot this November in the 2024 elections. Many of you may wonder what exactly this means. Put simply, the outcomes of the upcoming elections will determine the future of our nation, our jobs, and our lives. We will have choices to make up and down the ballot. Are we looking to expand rights and freedoms for all Americans, or place limitations? Are we looking to unite through truth and honesty, or divide through lies and deceit? Are we looking to go forward into a future marked by progress and hope, or one marked by hatred and despair, where the top one percent get richer, leaving the rest of us behind? These are the questions we must ask ourselves as we go to mark our ballots this election season.

It is absolutely critical that we vote not only in the presidential election at the top of the ticket, but all the way down the ballot. Governors, state legislatures, city councils, school boards, local judges, police chiefs, and more all shape the policies that govern your life. Some states and localities have various ballot initiatives and referenda to vote on, which allow you to have a direct say in policy. Decisions at the state and local level can affect you and your family’s lives just as much as federal elections. So, remember to vote on these ballot measures and in these elections as well!

Remember that your vote is your voice. These elections will be decided, in large part, by the nearly half of eligible voters who do not exercise their most fundamental right in our democracy. This right was not given to us, it was fought for and won through years of struggle. That is why we must all encourage our family, friends, and community to mobilize around building a better future this November. In order to do this, we need to educate everyone about what’s at stake and how to make our voices heard. Here is a checklist to ensure nothing is missed when making your plan to vote:

• Determine your method of voting: early, absentee, by-mail, in-person
• Locate your polling place
• Get a ride to the polls
• Schedule a time to vote
• Check potential ID requirements
• Check who is on your ballot
• Volunteer to be a poll worker

Please visit our website at apwu.org/2024-elections to hear from your fellow APWU members on the importance of voting and checking your voter registration status. On that page you will also find links to help you make your plan to vote, find your current representatives, and much more. If you have any questions about how to make your plan to vote this November, please feel free to contact the Legislative and Political Department by email at legislative@apwu.org or phone at 202-842-4211. We are a resource to help every single APWU member, as well as their family and friends, exercise their hard-fought right to vote this November!