Peter, should the upcoming elections really matter to me?
Midterm elections are coming up on November 2. These take place two years after the presidential elections and decide members of Congress and numerous state Governors. Many people do not realize the impact these elections have on a broad spectrum of issues, including health and civil liberties.
Absolutely, these elections should matter to you! There are many reasons to get fired up about punching your ballot. Candidates have vastly different views on issues like LGBT equality, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and Defense of Marriage Act, funding of HIV prevention and AIDS services, women’s rights, and health care reform (to name a few). Know where the candidates stand on issues important to you and voting accordingly. But most importantly, VOTE.
There are resources to help determine for whom you may want to vote. Project Vote Smart (www.votesmart.org) has non-partisan information about candidates running for office. Also, many non-governmental organizations release endorsements for candidates. Find an organization that aligns with your beliefs and see what they say about candidates.
In Illinois, there are many options available to us to make voting as easy as possible, including absentee ballots, early voting, voting grace periods, and an abundance of Election Day services. To find out more, check out www.elections.il.gov.
Peter Pointers is an online, gay health educator and is assisted by a group of qualified health specialists who work as a team to answer your health questions. Check out Peter’s Question/Answer forum at www.lifelube.org/experts.php for more pointers and to ask your own questions.