Too busy to vote in this year’s general election or don’t think your vote matters?
Consider the alternative: If you and other busy American small-business owners fail to act to protect our free enterprise system now, what will happen to Main Street in America?
From higher taxes to more government regulation, from unaffordable health insurance to Big Labor threatening to turn your small firm into a union shop, the reasons you can’t afford NOT to vote are countless. Your vote and involvement now can help return certainty to crucial small-business issues.
But we’ve made the process much easier for you. In the coming weeks, NFIB’s 2012 Small Business Voter Guide will arrive in your mailbox or, in most states, is already available online. If you don’t read anything else about this election, please read this Guide. It is custom tailored to your state and will inform you of important voting dates and deadlines, as well as provides a listing of NFIB’s endorsed candidates in your state.
Also featured is a side-by-side comparison of the presidential candidates’ positions on issues you have told us are most important to your business: healthcare reform, government regulation, taxes and balancing the budget.
Between now and Election Day, make sure you accomplish Five Big Things that you can do for small business. First, help elect “one of your own.” Many of your fellow NFIB members have stepped up to the challenge to make government more small-business friendly. They desperately need your support. You can help by volunteering, contributing to their campaigns, or engaging with them through social media.
Secondly, educate your employees. Research shows that employees trust their employers and want information from you on government and politics. Take the time to talk to them about the issues at stake and encourage them to get involved.
Third, put your customer service skills to work by volunteering in a campaign. Candidates always need willing volunteers to host events, make phone calls, and display signs at their homes or businesses. The Guide can help you learn more about pro-small business candidates in your area.
Fourth, donate to NFIB’s Voter Education Efforts. If just 500 members give $25 each, we can make a difference in targeted states by running online advertisements to support pro-small business polices. Visit NFIB.com/give to contribute to one of the most effective grassroots programs in the business community.
Fifth, and most importantly, make sure you vote on or before November 6. In many states, you can do this before Election Day by early or absentee voting. One of the most important decisions you can make is at the ballot box. Remember, pro-small business policies will not come from Washington or your state capital unless people who support these policies are elected.
Watch for your NFIB Voter Guide and do these five big things to help ensure that your small business and millions of other American job creators are soon back on the road to recovery.
