You Can Do This! Vote.
Thursday, October 1, 2020
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You Can Do This! Vote. Good government starts with your vote. Put your passion and dedication effectively into action by voting in the upcoming elections. Don’t let anyone tell you it doesn’t matter, or that it won’t make a difference. Apathy and indifference never achieved anything. Social workers who have participated in protests in the streets and have offered thoughtful heartfelt comments on social media about the important issues we face, have raised awareness and consciousness. Now is the moment to take that next critical step. Our votes collectively make the decisions about who will have the job of representing us, and working for us as our elected representatives, making policy decisions that affect you at the federal government, state government, county government, and/or local (city or township) government levels. The act of voting, empowers you. It is not a small thing. It is your civic duty. It is a privilege that too many of our military service personnel have died to protect for us. It is a citizen’s right that too many American citizens have had to overcome barriers and obstacles to participate in. It is your ethical responsibility as a social worker. “Social workers should engage in social and political action that seeks to ensure that all people have equal access to the resources, employment, services, and opportunities they require to meet their basic human needs and to develop fully. Social workers should be aware of the impact of the political arena on practice and should advocate for changes in policy and legislation to improve social conditions in order to meet basic human needs and promote social justice” (Section 6.04, NASW Code of Ethics) Vote by mail without having to wait for election day, or vote in person on election day, but please make sure your voice is heard, and VOTE. When you vote, you count, you make a difference and believe me your vote will matter! The voters of Michigan a couple of years ago overwhelmingly passed a referendum making it easier for you to vote. Absentee ballots for the upcoming election are available to any voter, and the Secretary of State and local election officials encourage you to use absentee voter ballots. It’s convenient and frankly refreshing to sit down and go through the ballot at your pace, without the pressure of knowing there is a long line of people behind you, and without having to wait in that line beforehand! In these times of COVID voting by mail at home keeps you healthy and safe in your own home. It also is reassuring to take care of this important responsibility well in advance, so something unplanned doesn’t keep you from getting to the voting booth on election day. If there is a candidate or an issue that you need more information about on the ballot, it is pretty easy to get helpful information on the internet. (For example, you can visit VOTE411.org an online nonpartisan voter guide brought to you by the League of Women Voters Education Fund.) See additional non-partisan informational resources listed below. When you go through the ballot and make your best choices, you can then check it over, sign it and send it in the mail (or drop it off in a designated drop box or clerk's office) it feels good! If you mail it, make sure to do it early enough (even a couple of weeks before election day) to give our friends at the post office plenty of time. If you don’t vote, the consequences could be catastrophic. But if we all vote; if all of our voices are collectively heard in our votes; then the social workers of Michigan will be heard, and that is important. NASW-Michigan has worked diligently on behalf of all Michigan social workers to make sure your professional interests and values are represented. Progress has been made this year on many key issues such as the updated Social Work General Rules, telehealth services, social worker representation on industry advisory and regulatory boards, and advisory task forces. Presently we are facing challenges to keep safe, and keep our clients safe amidst the current COVID health crisis, while also advocating for our essential social work services in a very difficult funding environment due to state budget challenges. Our commitment to social justice and overcoming systemic inequities is ongoing and intensified. Progress has been made in multiple areas, but there is much work to be done, and we need willing partners in elected offices.  Now it is up to you to do your part.
You can do this. I believe in you. Vote.
Edward D’Angelo, LMSW-Clinical & Macro NASW-Michigan Vice President of Social Policy
Helpful election and voting links:
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