The end of the school year also ended the first phase of the union's new Pledge to Vote campaign — which aims to increase voter turnout among NYSUT members by having them formally commit to vote in local, state and national elections.
If you have not yet signed a pledge card, don't fret; you'll be able to do it this summer or in October.
- Spread the word.
Print or share this "Vote: Your Future Depends on it" poster. ( pdf / jpg )
The campaign that rolled out this spring in every region of the state seeks to persuade 95 percent of all NYSUT local union members to take the pledge and to vote in November.
NYSUT is running the Pledge to Vote campaign everywhere NYSUT members are employed. Leadership volunteers distribute postcards to members and ask them to fill them out and take the pledge to vote. The pledge form also is available online at pledge.nysut.org. In the run up to the next election, NYSUT will contact those who signed the pledge and remind them that they promised to get to the polls.
"NYSUT members represent between 5 and 8 percent of the electorate in every state Senate and Assembly district, and those numbers are enough to wield significant influence, make a difference and affect outcomes," said NYSUT Executive Vice President Andy Pallotta.
Political Director Melinda Person said, "The campaign will not tell people how to vote; it will engage members to become active in the political process."