Make the Primary a Priority - June 2nd

Seems like November 2008 was just yesterday and we were at the polls making important decisions. Now we'll be returning to the polls again this coming Tuesday, June 2nd. And yes, our decisions on who we vote at the state level are just as important as they were in November. The primary will decide the final 2009 candidates for Governor of New Jersey, State Senate special election seats and the New Jersey State Assembly, as well as some of your local town and county positions. For a list of candidates, head to www.NJVoterInfo.org.

Find a candidate you believe in and contact him or her to get involved with the campaign - stuffing envelopes, sending mailings, making phone calls, getting out the vote, or taking on leadership roles. The more that we as social workers step into these roles, the more of a voice we have in the way communities are structured, services are created for the vulnerable, and social justice is incorporated into the overall political machine.

Remember, there are at least 3 main reasons social workers should consider being active in politics:
1) The nature of our professional mission (our responsibility to advocate for our clients)
2) The skills that we bring to the political process (community needs assessments, meeting people where they are at, understanding complicated interpersonal dynamics)
3) The preponderance of issues facing federal, state, and local policy making bodies relating to social services and welfare policies

Regarding voting on Tuesday, June 2nd: If you have any questions or need assistance with problems that you may encounter at the polls, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey has announced that they will be staffing a VOTEline (1-800-792-VOTE) from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Primary Election Day.

Bonus: Can you tell me why elections are always held on a Tuesday?