By: David G. Greineder, IOM, ABC Pennsylvania Director of Government Affairs
The Importance of Voting
The 2022 General Election, especially in Pennsylvania, is set up to be a nail-biter. In Pennsylvania, all 203 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election, along with 25 seats in the Senate (in even numbered districts). Voters will also elect a new governor, a U.S. Senator, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives across 17 congressional districts.
I have heard from many members voicing concerns about the future of the construction industry based on predictions of a 2023 recession. Make no mistake, this election will have an impact on Pennsylvania’s future, including how the commonwealth responds to a potential recession coupled with critical workforce needs. That is why ABC Pennsylvania believes it is important to educate our members on who is running for office so you and your employees can make good choices about who will represent your interests. As we did in the primary, ABC Pennsylvania will issue a Voter Guide for our members to use and disseminate as they see fit.
When it comes to voting, if you know of an employee or family member who is unregistered to vote or just reached the voting age, please encourage them to register. To vote in Pennsylvania, all eligible voters must first register with the Department of State. Registrations must be submitted by Monday, October 24. First-time voters must show proof of identification at their polling location.
Mail-in voting is happening NOW. If a voter prefers to vote by mail and has yet to do so, encourage them to carefully read the information on the Department of State’s website. The last day to APPLY for a mail-in ballot is November 1. Mail-in ballots must be RECEIVED by the voter’s local board of election by
8:00 p.m. on November 8. Information on registering, mail-in ballots, absentee ballots, polling places and more can be found at: www.vote.pa.gov
If you are an employer and want information on how you can talk to your employees about the importance of voting, ABC National has guidance on the “do’s and don’ts” in an election cycle. Election laws are very complex, and we encourage utilization of these resources to learn more about appropriate communications with employees. The toolkit can be found at: www.abcvotes.com
Lastly, many employers offer time off for employees to vote. Some employers even offer the whole day off. We encourage these office policies so everyone can exercise their right to vote. If you already voted by mail, thank you. If you prefer to vote in-person, November 8 is the big day! Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
If you are not signed-up to receive email alerts, please download the “ABC Action App” from the app store on your mobile device or at abc.org/abcaction.
Posted September 27, 2022
