5 Reasons to Flex Your Vote
5 Reasons to Flex Your Vote
Voting is the very foundation of advocacy. It is your first chance to engage with the policymakers that represent you at the federal, state and local level. Our elected officials make decisions on everything from access to health care to how much money goes toward medical research.
It’s up to each of us to make sure our voices are heard! It’s up to you to Flex Your Vote!
1. Voting Is Important!
The simple definition of democracy is government by the people. It is our elected official’s job to represent us. We must get out and vote and make our voice heard. Voting is my opportunity to use my voice to vote the way I want for candidates who I feel best represent me, my values, and views.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, “Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves, and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”
2. Express Your Opinion and Values Through Voting.
There are certain healthcare policies, research, and funding policies specific to colorectal cancer. Fight CRC keeps a pulse on policies and issues so you can know when it’s time to act and tell your elected officials how their actions could affect you as a colorectal cancer advocate.
During elections it’s important to know where candidates stand on important healthcare issues that could potentially affect you as a cancer survivor. Things to think about are pre-existing conditions, access to clinical trials, the cost of prescription drugs – the list goes on.
All of these things matter and either have been parts of bills in the past or easily could be in the future. You should want candidates in office who will protect you and keep your best interest in mind.
3. Voting for One Candidate Is Better Than Not Voting.
There is never going to be one candidate that you completely agree with 100%, so research a candidate and find one that represents your values and views as closely as you can. People often feel that their vote doesn’t matter, but there are many local and state elections that have been decided by just a few votes, so every vote counts! It’s YOUR vote, why wouldn’t you cast it?
4. There Is More Than One Way to Flex Your Vote.
You can vote by mail. You can have your ballot at home and be able to take more time to look up a certain measure or compare and contrast candidates to ensure you are making the best choice that represents you. Or, you can vote in person at the polls. It doesn’t matter how you prefer to vote: in person or by mail. The important thing is to vote!
“I typically visit my state’s information page on voting to see a sample ballot. This lets me know what my ballot will look like on voting day, so I know exactly what seats are open and who’s running. It will also let me know if there are any special measures to vote on. From there I can research candidates and issues, so I am as informed as I can be for voting day. In my state, North Dakota, you do not need to register to vote, so there really isn’t much prep work aside from knowing where I am going to vote, making sure I have the proper ID, and knowing what is on the ballot.”
–Amanda Houston, stage II survivor“I started Fight CRC because I believed in grassroots activism. I wanted to engage the systems that touch us as patients and caregivers – research, access to care, public policy – and push them to consider our needs and values. I wanted to be heard! And over 15 years later, we are. We sit at tables where decisions are being made and are part of developing the policies and programs that impact us. We aren’t here to pick one party or the other. We remain non-partisan. Our focus is on fighting colorectal cancer and voting is a key part of that fight.”
Nancy Roach, Founder of Fight CRC, Your Content Goes Here5. It’s Your Civic Duty!
Many advocates say the best part of voting is the sense of pride you feel about completing your civic duty. There are a variety of ways to find out more information about candidates including calling the campaign office: Candidates want your vote, so they should be happy to answer any questions you may have about them or where they stand on issues.
Voting is the very foundation of advocacy. It is your first chance to engage with the policymakers that represent you at the federal, state and local level. Our elected officials make decisions on everything from access to health care to how much money goes toward medical research.
It’s up to each of us to make sure our voices are heard! It’s up to you to Flex Your Vote!
1. Voting Is Important!
The simple definition of democracy is government by the people. It is our elected official’s job to represent us. We must get out and vote and make our voice heard. Voting is my opportunity to use my voice to vote the way I want for candidates who I feel best represent me, my values, and views.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, “Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves, and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”
2. Express Your Opinion and Values Through Voting.
There are certain healthcare policies, research, and funding policies specific to colorectal cancer. Fight CRC keeps a pulse on policies and issues so you can know when it’s time to act and tell your elected officials how their actions could affect you as a colorectal cancer advocate.
During elections it’s important to know where candidates stand on important healthcare issues that could potentially affect you as a cancer survivor. Things to think about are pre-existing conditions, access to clinical trials, the cost of prescription drugs – the list goes on.
All of these things matter and either have been parts of bills in the past or easily could be in the future. You should want candidates in office who will protect you and keep your best interest in mind.
3. Voting for One Candidate Is Better Than Not Voting.
There is never going to be one candidate that you completely agree with 100%, so research a candidate and find one that represents your values and views as closely as you can. People often feel that their vote doesn’t matter, but there are many local and state elections that have been decided by just a few votes, so every vote counts! It’s YOUR vote, why wouldn’t you cast it?
4. There Is More Than One Way to Flex Your Vote.
You can vote by mail. You can have your ballot at home and be able to take more time to look up a certain measure or compare and contrast candidates to ensure you are making the best choice that represents you. Or, you can vote in person at the polls. It doesn’t matter how you prefer to vote: in person or by mail. The important thing is to vote!
“I typically visit my state’s information page on voting to see a sample ballot. This lets me know what my ballot will look like on voting day, so I know exactly what seats are open and who’s running. It will also let me know if there are any special measures to vote on. From there I can research candidates and issues, so I am as informed as I can be for voting day. In my state, North Dakota, you do not need to register to vote, so there really isn’t much prep work aside from knowing where I am going to vote, making sure I have the proper ID, and knowing what is on the ballot.”
–Amanda Houston, stage II survivor“I started Fight CRC because I believed in grassroots activism. I wanted to engage the systems that touch us as patients and caregivers – research, access to care, public policy – and push them to consider our needs and values. I wanted to be heard! And over 15 years later, we are. We sit at tables where decisions are being made and are part of developing the policies and programs that impact us. We aren’t here to pick one party or the other. We remain non-partisan. Our focus is on fighting colorectal cancer and voting is a key part of that fight.”
Nancy Roach, Founder of Fight CRC, Your Content Goes Here5. It’s Your Civic Duty!
Many advocates say the best part of voting is the sense of pride you feel about completing your civic duty. There are a variety of ways to find out more information about candidates including calling the campaign office: Candidates want your vote, so they should be happy to answer any questions you may have about them or where they stand on issues.
