Vote: a civic duty and privilege
On Tuesday November 4 US citizens vote for a new president, 1/3 of the US senate, and all members of congress. Countless state and local elections as well as innumerable referendums will be decided on that same day. Many of us will be directly impacted by the results of these contests and all of us will be indirectly impacted in the months and years to come.
As first responders, EMTs, and paramedics you have already made a choice to become involved in your community. You are civically engaged. You contribute your time, talents, and compassion to your fellow citizens whenever you respond to an emergency. This commitment often comes at the expense of work, other personal interests, or time with friends and family.
Since you are already an engaged citizen of your community make it a priority to cast your ballot on or before November 4. If you are scheduled to work on November 4, do your best to cast an absentee ballot before November 3.
Our local, state, and elected officials help determine:
- wages and compensation
- administrative rules that guide license and certification requirements
- grants for capital equipment purchases
- systems that support EMS like 9-1-1
- availability of training centers