The 2016 election has finally come and gone. What’s next, is up to you.
After a long two years, the 2016 election has finally come and gone. Starting December 2016, we will have a new State Legislature, and starting January 20, 2017, we will have a new president. However, our role as voters, citizens and advocates is far from over. It is up to us to stay informed, stay engaged and stay involved in the political and policy process. We need to make our voice heard on behalf of our children as our lawmakers face critical decisions each and every day.
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Graph shows Maine eligible voter participation from 1980 to 2016 elections.
Data from U.S. Election Project. http://www.electproject.org/ [/caption] The good news is, just under 70 percent of eligible Maine voters participated in the election this year, well above the national average of 59 percent. Overall, Maine had the fourth highest voter participation rate in the country following, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Colorado. That’s pretty impressive but comes as no surprise. Maine has a history of high voter turnout, especially in presidential elections. As Mainers we know it is important to make sure our voices are heard, not just for ourselves but for our collective future. At the Maine Children’s Alliance, we are committed to using research and data to advocate for public policies and practices that work to make Maine a better place to be a kid and raise a family because we know that when our children thrive, our state thrives. So we will continue to take a two-generation approach by working on issues around early childhood, children’s health and family economic security to improve child outcomes in Maine. More importantly, we will continue working to bridge the gap between child advocates and the state house through our website , blog, email newsletters and action alerts . This session, MCA is expecting a number of important issues to come up that affect our children. Want to get involved in the process? Here is what you can do:
Graph shows Maine eligible voter participation from 1980 to 2016 elections.
Data from U.S. Election Project. http://www.electproject.org/ [/caption] The good news is, just under 70 percent of eligible Maine voters participated in the election this year, well above the national average of 59 percent. Overall, Maine had the fourth highest voter participation rate in the country following, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Colorado. That’s pretty impressive but comes as no surprise. Maine has a history of high voter turnout, especially in presidential elections. As Mainers we know it is important to make sure our voices are heard, not just for ourselves but for our collective future. At the Maine Children’s Alliance, we are committed to using research and data to advocate for public policies and practices that work to make Maine a better place to be a kid and raise a family because we know that when our children thrive, our state thrives. So we will continue to take a two-generation approach by working on issues around early childhood, children’s health and family economic security to improve child outcomes in Maine. More importantly, we will continue working to bridge the gap between child advocates and the state house through our website , blog, email newsletters and action alerts . This session, MCA is expecting a number of important issues to come up that affect our children. Want to get involved in the process? Here is what you can do:
- Sign up for MCA’s email newsletter;
- Learn more about your new state lawmakers;
- Participate in action alerts and call your lawmaker!