As the summer comes to a close, the presidential race will begin to heat up. Next week the Democratic National Convention will begin on August 25 in Denver. Colo. The Republican National Convention will be held in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., beginning on September 1. If you live in either of these communities, I hope you get the opportunity to participate and share your expertise with your fellow citizens and the parties’ powers that be.
After the Conventions we will be bombarded with commercials, debates and interviews, as well as articles written in the local and national newspapers regarding the respective candidates’ plans to improve the economy; address cost, quality and access to health care; address energy supplies and costs; and discuss their strategies to ensure the safety and security of our country. All of the efforts will culminate on November 4, 2008 when the national election will take place to seat our country’s 44th President.
The commander in chief is not the only position up for grabs. The U.S. Senate will have 35 seats up for re-election, whereas every seat in the House of Representatives is up for election. Furthermore, 11 states will hold elections for the position of governor.
To be ready for the big day, here are a few tips that will help you prepare:
1. Register to vote. If you and all the eligible voters in your family are not registered to vote, take time to do so. Consider it a civic duty. In 2006 only 68 percent of all eligible voters took the time to vote. Let’s break that record this year! To learn what you need to do to register, visit the League of Women Voters.
2. If you are planning a vacation or a business trip and will be out of town on November 4, take time to apply for an absentee ballot so you can cast your vote. (A quick google search of absentee ballot + your home state will connect you to the needed information.)
3. Pay attention over the next few weeks to the debates and the credible news outlets so you will be informed. Some websites you may want to investigate include:
NPR.org. Click on Election 2008. Here you will find an interactive map that provides information on the presidential race and the races for the Senate and House.
Health08.org. The Kaiser Family Foundation provides an analysis of healthcare issues addressed by the presidential candidates.
Democratic candidate Barack Obama’s main page.
Republican candidate John McCain’s main page.
Libertarian candidate Bob Barr’s main page.
U.S. House of Representatives.
Don’t lose out on your opportunity to have a say in the direction our country will take going forward. Get prepared to vote on November 4!
Have a good week!
Anne Llewellyn, RN-BC, MS, BHSA, CCM, CRRN
Editor-in-Chief of Across My Desk, Case in Point magazine, and the Case Management Resource Guide
allewellyn@dorlandhealth.com
