As political ads flood social media, television, radio and more, now is a great time for voters to make sure they are informed about the issues and are ready to cast their ballot in the midterm election.
On Nov. 8, 2022, all 435 U.S. House of Representative seats and 35 of the 100 U.S. Senate seats will be on the line. Multiple governors will be elected and 88 of the country’s 99 state legislative chambers also are holding their regularly scheduled elections.
While candidates continue to make their case for why they would best represent you and your community, all voters should spend the final few weeks learning about the issues and the voting options in their state. To find all the voting information you need in one place, visit the American Rental Association’s (ARA) Voter Resource Center at ARAvotes.com. This site is available for anyone in the equipment and event rental industry. Users can type in their address to find personalized voting information, such as important election dates, information on how to register to vote, polling locations and details on the various ways to cast a ballot. The ARA Voter Resource Center also offers information on top issues, elected officials and the latest political news.
Below are a few steps to become an engaged voter and advocate for your community and industry.
Check your state’s dates and deadlines. Each state has different rules and deadlines when it comes to registering to vote or voting early. To find specific state information visit ARAvotes.com or your state’s Secretary of State or Board of Elections website. Important information to look for includes:
- Voter registration deadline
- Early voting dates
- Absentee voting dates
Register to vote. Depending on your state, the registration deadline could be as much as a month before an election. If you are already registered, look up your voter information on file and make updates, if necessary.
Research the candidates running in your area. Attend virtual town halls and meet and greets to hear more about their stance on the issues and to engage with them directly on issues that are important to you and your business.
Plan ahead if voting early. If you plan to cast an absentee or mail-in ballot, submit an application and vote ahead of the deadline. Depending on the state, voters must request a ballot. Some states may require voters to submit a valid reason for why they want to vote by mail. Others can vote by mail regardless of their reason for wanting to do so. Each state has its own set of deadlines and rules regarding how voting
is conducted.
Vote. Look up your polling place and voting hours before heading out to cast a ballot. Some employers also may offer voting leave — giving employees extra time before, during or after work to cast their vote.
As an employer, there are a few easy things that can be done to help encourage everyone on your staff to vote this November. These include:
- Sending out voting information to employees. A link to ARAvotes.com could be shared to help employees find their specific voting information.
- Holding a voter registration drive. This could be as easy as having a computer set up in a common area with vote.gov on the screen. On this website, your staff can fill in their state or territory and find instructions on how to register online, by mail or in person at their local election office.
- Posting important election dates in the break room or common area of your business. These dates could include voter registration deadlines, absentee, early voting and vote by mail deadlines, and the date of Election Day.
As Election Day quickly approaches, now is the time to spend a few minutes making sure you are registered to vote, plus learn about the candidates and issues that are important to you, your business and community. Don’t let other voters decide your fate this November. Be a part of the process and make your vote count.
One vote can make a difference
There are races every election year that are decided by very small margins. If one or a few more voters participated in these elections, the outcome would have been entirely different.
Close 2020 elections
- In Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) won over Rita Hart (D) by just 6 votes.
- Jon Ossoff (D) defeated David Perdue (R) by 0.89% to become a U.S. Senator of Georgia.
- In New York’s 22nd Congressional District, Claudia Tenney (R) won over Anthony Brindisi (D) by 109 votes.
Down ballot races matter
- In 2016, a Vermont State House seat was decided by 1 vote. This was a rematch after the same candidates faced each other in 2010 where the race also was decided by 1 singular vote, in the other direction.
- In 2017, a Virginia House of Delegates race ended in a tie after 23,000 ballots were cast. The winner was decided by pulling a name out of a film cannister. This single race decided the majority in the House of Delegates.