We collected 3,287 petition signatures!

And now, we are asking for you to help our voices become even stronger! These petitions are being delivered to a few legislators to encourage them to take notice and educate themselves on a topic of need and interest to many when it comes to community health centers!!

To make the petition drive fun for staff and – to provide an incentive for them to go the extra mile to get signatures of support – the team with the most signatures won a pizza party for their entire Health Center staff! That winning team was….drum roll please….

Southwest Health & Dental Center!!!

So now it is YOUR turn… GET UP, GET OUT, AND VOTE!! The primary election is important and a way for you to have a voice and make yourself heard!! Encourage your co-workers to vote, or your friends, or family….maybe your employer would consider hosting a pizza party if 100% of staff voted on May 8^th? Never hurts to ask!

And, who doesn’t like a free lunch simply for doing something good?

Wondering – WHERE EXACTLY DO I GO TO VOTE?
Click here to find the polling place nearest you.

P.S. If you don’t vote, then this guy may yell at you…

flickr photo by Adam Merton

BUT…

the basis for the theme is to have some fun with voting in the Indiana Presidential Primary next week – Tuesday May, 8^th.

This is our third blog stressing the need to GET UP, GET OUT AND GO VOTE.  Our first post stressed doing it for your health center; the second post explained that voting makes your voice stronger in the long run; and this post will explain why it is important to do it for yourself.

Let’s be honest.  There is an overwhelming majority of people who simply don’t have confidence in government right now.  We are being worn down by the economy, lack of jobs, and more.  There was even a poll done by the New York Times & CBS News that found 89% of Americans distrust the government to do the right thing.  Given that was back in October, but not much has changed since then.

One way to turn this feeling around is by getting out to vote and expressing our opinions to the officials that DO get elected.  The person that you want in office may not be the one elected, but if enough voters express their beliefs to their legislator, then that official has no choice but to listen if they want to keep voters.

flickr photo by eyespahn

Do your homework on the candidates, invite a friend of family member to go with you, and GET UP, GET OUT AND GO VOTE next Tuesday.  If you don’t want to do it for a certain candidate, do it for yourself.  Do it so you feel confident enough to call your Senator or Representative if you feel they are representing their community in the wrong way!

Find your polling place by clicking here!

Today is another call out to GET OUT AND VOTE in the Indiana Primary in two weeks.  Tuesday, May 8^th is the date.  If you would like to add it to your Google Calendar, then click the “Google Calendar” button below!

Our health center staff have been spending the last month collecting signatures for our petition to show support for the Health Centers program!  But, another way to make those voices even more effective would be if a congressional staff person is looking through the names and sees names of VOTERS!

flickr photo by KOMUnews

If they see voters’ names on a petition, then they know that there could be the potential to lose votes in the next election if they don’t support health centers!

A quick heads up…this won’t be our last reminder!  But hey, voting is a RIGHT that should be expressed.

Invite a coworker to vote with you.  Or a family member.  Or a friend.  Make it a good experience for everyone, so that it doesn’t feel like a chore!

Have a great Tuesday! See you at the polls in TWO WEEKS!

So you are registered to vote, but let’s add some barriers – Limited access to a car, just moved, and you have a million other things to worry about in May.  The Indy 500 is coming up.  You are training for the mini-marathon.  Your kids are getting done with school.  Okay, elections are furthest from your mind…

And May 8^th? A Tuesday?

And it is only to vote for the Republican Candidate?

You are now thinking – “Come on! I can sit this one out. No big deal!”

But what if you thought about it this way?

Legislators like to keep their jobs.  Hopefully it is because they like to lead our country in a positive direction.  BUT! It is true that everyone likes job security.

Well if a legislator likes to keep his/her job, then they need to gain votes.  At least enough votes to beat the other candidate that they are running against.  So, if a legislator is in office, but they are thinking about the future and getting more votes, then how are they going to do that?

They are probably going to serve the wants and needs of the people who have already voted, first.  So, if you DON’T vote, then will that legislator listen to what you have to say?

flickr photo by mdanys

This is one way that I think about the need for everyone to vote.  Plenty of different people have different reasons to vote.  But what is stated above has always made sense to me on the reason to vote.

You may not feel as if your voice is being heard during elections, but when it comes down to advocating for a cause, specifically funding for the Health Centers program and Medicaid, being a voter MAKES your voice heard.  Legislators pay attention to those who are going to polls, sending in absentee ballots and have the potential to swing elections.

SO GET OUT AND VOTE!

MAY 8^TH is the Indiana Presidential Primary.  If you are not registered to vote, it is just a little too late.  But, don’t get discouraged, if you register to vote now, then you will be good to go once November gets here!

Another way to get your voice heard?  Signing our petition to support health centers and Medicaid!