Why is it important to vote?
October 9, 2008 9:04 am Legislature, NewsWe are rapidly approaching a very important time in our country – the presidential election. The deadline to register to vote in the state of Maryland is October 14th.
Maryland Association for the Deaf does not endorse any particular candidate. MDAD is a non-profit organization with neutral political views. What we do is focus on civil rights and services for the deaf; knowing your civil rights will allow you to choose the candidate who best suits your needs.
MDAD assists with many kinds of civil rights. Let me highlight just a few:
• When you go to the hospital for an emergency involving yourself or your loved ones, it is important to make sure that the hospital will provide accessible communication with medical professionals, whether that be via an interpreter, VRI, or your preferred means. You may have concerns or questions about the medical bills and whether your health insurance will cover the services needed. You want to make sure your concerns are heard! That’s your civil right.
• As another example, when you get a new job or promotion, you want to make sure you have the appropriate accommodations: interpreters, VRS, computers, or other technologies to meet your needs. These are your civil rights.
• When you need help with your finances or want to plan for your retirement, it is part of your civil rights to have access to the proper services and professionals to support you in financial investments and planning.
With all of these civil rights in mind, you can decide which candidate for local, state, or national office will best meet your needs.
To find out whether you are already registered to vote, go to www.canivote.org and fill out the form to verify your voter registration information. If you are not registered to vote, please click on “how to register” from the State Board of Election link and follow the instructions. Remember, the process must be completed before October 14th. If you need assistance with any of these steps, please feel free to contact us at info@mdad.tv.
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of voting. Only people who have completed the registration process before October 14th will be able cast their votes in the presidential election on Tuesday, November 4th, and choose the candidate they feel will serve them best.
Every VOTE counts! Some people think that their individual votes are insignificant, but if each individual votes, the sum total of those votes is incredibly powerful. The more votes we cast, the stronger the impact on our lives. So each vote does make a huge difference and shows how YOU are important to the process.
REMEMBER: the deadline to register is October 14th - please make your “hands” heard!
