In less than one week, after a long fought election season, people across the country will finally have the opportunity to make their voices heard and vote on the issues that matter most, like affordable power. In fact, many Americans have already cast their ballots – more than 24.4 million specifically – in early voting states, nearly double the number of those that cast their ballots early at this point in the 2012 race.
America’s Power urges all of our supporters to check out Vote.org to see if early voting is available in your state, and if it is, get out and cast your ballot now. At the very least, you won’t have to wait in long lines, and you’ll still get your “I Voted” sticker.
Whether you end up voting this week, or next Tuesday, it is critical to take a moment to learn where the candidates stand on the issues that matter the most to you and your family. Long after the ballots are cast and the votes are counted, the policies implemented by those elected will impact your bottom lines and the well-being of you, your children, and your children’s children. Nothing could be more emblematic of this than the policies that affect access to affordable power. Access to reliable and affordable power means keeping electricity bills reasonable in our own households as well as keeping a fixed cost in a business at a manageable level. The votes we cast from the top of the ballot on down will matter today, they will matter tomorrow and they will matter ten years from now.
The next administration, as well as members of the House and Senate will inherit an Obama Administration Power Plan that remains in limbo awaiting the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision on the matter. If this plan goes into effect, analysis from NERA Economic Consulting predicts 28 states could expect to see double-digit increases in their electricity prices—every year. This would be disastrous for our families, our communities, and our country. Clearly, elections have consequences, and this will be one of them.
That’s why it is so critically important to vote this cycle. So take a moment to see if your state allows for early voting, make note of any deadlines, find out where and when you can vote and learn where your candidates stand on affordable power. And above all, make sure you get out there and make your voice heard. It’s important for families, for American job, and for the economy.