Voting is how democratic firms (cooperatives) and countries sustain effectiveness and legitimacy. For citizens, it is an important civic duty in all circumstances requiring elected office holders.
Cooperative democracy is strengthened every time members vote for directors in a credit union’s annual meeting. For co-op owners, it is the process that undergirds sound governance.
Encouraging Voting by Members
The National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) is asking all co-ops to encourage member voting in the upcoming November elections.
Voting, they maintain, is the practice of cooperative principles and values. Co-ops often serve as more than just a place of business. They play a central role in the community. Especially during a pandemic they are uniquely positioned to help people register, act as a conduit for critical voting information, and assist people to make a plan to vote.
NCBA CLUSA, U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives (USFWC), National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (NRECA), and Democracy at Work Institute are sponsoring a webinar today, September 15 at 1:00 pm EDT. In the webinar, presented in English and Spanish, they will share information about National Voter Registration Day and how your co-op can play a part encouraging a high voter turnout this election.
The webinar is free. Register here: https://ncbaclusa.coop/blog/how-your-co-op-can-help-turn-out-the-vote-join-this-coopsvote-webinar-on-september-15/
National Voter Registration Day
National Voter Registration Day is September 22, 2020. The following are additional NCBA suggestions to get involved. I personally found the vote.coop website intriguing. There is even a store!
- Click here to participate as a National Voter Registration Day host on September 22..
- Listen to the Along These Lines podcast episode featuring NRECA’s Laura Vogel and Non-Profit Vote’s Brian Miller on initiatives and resources for cooperatives.
- Check out this toolkit or visit vote.coop for more opportunities,
- Invite candidates to virtually speak with your co-op,
- Add the vote.coop link on your co-op’s website,
- Watch this webinar from Non-profit Vote on Digital Voter Engagement Tools During the COVID Pandemic,
- Send an email to your co-op’s member owners with voter registration information, or
- Create a Co-ops Vote insert for your member-owners or customers to be included in an invoice, receipt or delivery.
Credit Unions and Democracy
Elections have winners and losers. However practicing the responsibility of voting creates a win for democracy, whether in a credit union or for a public office.