Elections
Election Resources
Election Success - Nearly 70 percent of recommended candidates elected
The votes are in. Of the Utah candidates recommended by state and local political action committees for the 2012 General Election, more than 67 percent were successful. UEA Government Relations Director Kory Holdaway attributes this success in large part to the hard work of many Association members and their contributions to association political action committees.
Holdaway also said that in this election the UEA reached out to better inform its members about the recommended candidates through emails, mailings and phone messages. In addition, the UEA identified many teachers who have historically not voted and encouraged them to register to vote by mail.
“We saw a dramatic increase in the preliminary voter registration and also vote by mail reports,” said Holdaway. “The voter turnout for our members looks to be more than double previous years.”
“The election of many candidates recommended by our local, state and national political action committees is a victory for students and for public education,” he said. “Congratulations are due to everyone involved. Let’s celebrate our success and continue to work on building the important relationships necessary to address our public education challenges.”
Why Are Educators Involved in Elections?
A top priority of UEA members is ensuring that every child has access to a quality public school. That priority extends beyond the classroom, and it means educators speaking up about decisions that take place outside of school that affect their ability to educate their students. Local, state and national politics have a direct impact on the quality of our public schools; speaking up for students requires speaking up in the political process.
Primary Success - Let's Keep it Going
by UEA Government Relations Director Kory Holdaway
- 2012 Primary Election Results
Hard work pays off. Many teachers worked very hard to ensure there are education-friendly candidates on the ballot for November. Of the 14 legislative races in which the UEA Political Action Committee recommended candidates in the 2012 Primary Election, 12 were successful.
A great deal of thanks needs to be sent to the many teachers who responded to the call to vote and contact their neighbors. This is what can happen when we use our membership in a meaningful way to inform our neighbors and friends about the various campaigns.
It is now critical that we keep the momentum going. While the presidential race may take center stage on Nov. 6, local races for school board and legislative seats will have a greater impact on your career and your students.
Nearly half of all teachers did not even take the time to vote in the last general election—a troubling trend that must be reversed.
Please take the time to research the candidates and vote. We’ve pulled together some resources on this page. Resources include a list of education PAC-recommended candidates, links to online voter registration and more (see above). For those who have not voted in the past, we encourage you to sign up to vote by mail. Voting by mail makes it far easier to cast your ballot.
The Primary Elections showed that when we work together, we can make a difference. It’s more important now than ever to let your voice be heard.
Getting involved
Like it or not, much of what happens in Utah classrooms is out of the control of teachers, parents and school administrators. Decisions about everything from curriculum and class size to budgets for classroom supplies are made by elected officials and appointed policy makers. You can make a difference by attending your party caucus meeting, voting in the primary and general elections, attending school board meetings and following activities of the Utah State Legislature.
For more information about candidates and neighborhood political meetings in your area:
What is a party caucus meeting?
Both the Republican and Democratic parties hold important neighborhood political meetings in March. People attend these meetings to discuss current issues and the party platform and, most importantly, to elect delegates to attend the county and state party conventions.
Why is it important to attend my party caucus?
Convention delegates, elected by their neighborhood caucus, play an important role because it is these delegates who will decide which candidates will be on the ballot in November. At the party convention delegates cast their vote for a candidate and if that candidate receives 60 percent of the vote they will avoid a run-off in the June primary and will automatically be on the ballot in the November general election.
If you’ve ever wished you had a better choice of pro-public education candidates on the November ballot you can see why delegates are so important, delegates can choose the candidates! By attending your caucus you will have a say in which candidates end up on the ballot.
How can I get involved?
You must attend your assigned caucus meeting in order to participate. Caucus locations are typically printed in the newspaper a few days before the meeting or you can call your party headquarters or visit the party website to find out the location. Also, you must be a registered party member to vote or run as a delegate for the Republican party. The Democratic party allows anyone regardless of party registration to participate in the party caucus.
How can I become a delegate?
To become a delegate you just need to have more votes in your caucus than someone else. If you are interested in being a delegate let your friends and neighbors know. Decide if you want to be a county delegate, a state delegate, or both (in Salt Lake County, the Democratic delegates are automatically both). Candidates for a House or Senate district that crosses county lines are selected at the state convention. Take people with you to the meeting who are committed to vote for you. At the meeting, announce your desire to be a delegate and have someone ready to nominate you. When nominated, be prepared to answer questions about why you want to run. If it is to support public schools, say so!