2016 Election: Make Your Vote Count

October 14, 2016 | 2016 Election: Make Your Vote Count

Jason Gross, Office of Corporate Strategy, Nationwide

Now more than ever, employers are playing an increasingly important role in their employees’ knowledge of the political process and their access to information about candidates and election issues.

The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) is collaborating with the Business Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC) on the state level and nationally to give employers ways to educate and engage their employees in the election process. BIPAC provides employers, trade associations, issues coalitions, business organizations and political action committees with tools and strategies to communicate political activities with employees on the grass-roots level.

Matt Davison, the eastern regional director of field operations for BIPAC, said surveys show that employees tune out once they’re told how to vote, so it’s important for employers to only be an information provider.

“Anytime you’re more or less telling somebody how to vote, it turns them off,” he explained. “They don’t want to hear it. They don’t want to be told how to vote.”

BIPAC’s survey after the 2014 election showed that employers — more than political parties, unions or the media — are a trusted source of information when it comes to the election process.

“The employer is the No. 1 resource for election information for pretty much the entire scope of the employee’s life,” Davison said. “We’ve found that employees want the information, and they trust their employer. One thing we strive to do is bridge that gap.”

BIPAC works with chambers of commerce and business asso- ciations such as ABI to share information about the political pro- cess and to show employers how they can engage their employees in nonpartisan, effective ways. One of BIPAC’s biggest efforts is to help employers get their employees registered to vote through Iowa Employees Vote, which was a weeklong effort that took place in late September. Companies are also encouraged to ensure em- ployees understand which issues are important to the company and likely to affect it. Employers should make sure their employ- ees understand how these issues could carry down to them and affect their jobs.

“We’ve been hearing a lot of grumblings,” Davison said. “There are a lot of people completely turned off by this year’s election. One of the things we want to bring attention to is that it’s not the only race going on this year.”

For example, Davison said there are numerous state and national races for representatives and senators that will likely have more of an effect on Iowans’ daily lives than the presidential race. For several of those local races in Iowa, BIPAC has created candidate comparisons about various issues.

“The visitor can see that information in a nonbiased form,” Davison said.

Members who join BIPAC’s efforts also receive sample email messag- es they can forward to their employees that encourage them to register to vote and notify them of voter registration deadlines.

BIPAC also emphasizes local political efforts. In Iowa, ABI is a partner of the Iowa Prosperity Project, which began with the Forty Days of Voting Campaign on Sept. 29, the first day of early voting in Iowa.

The Iowa Prosperity Project (www.iavotes.com) explains that Iowa businesses operate in a highly regulated environment where legislators’ decisions can directly affect the business. That’s why local and state elec- tions are also important. The website is a resource Iowa businesses can share with their employees to research and learn more about candidates and elected officials and where they stand on issues.

During the Forty Days of Voting Campaign, ABI will discuss the im- portance of voting, how to register to vote, how to request an absentee ballot, and how to learn more about candidates and issues, said Emily Schettler, communications coordinator for ABI. ABI also will remind its members in key districts throughout the state to vote.

Schettler said ABI wants to remind members to pay attention to the entire ballot and vote in all races: the state and federal houses and sen- ates, as well as judicial races and ballot referendums.

“All of those positions have an impact on our everyday lives, communities and businesses,” she said.

Many businesses in Iowa have become more active in their political outreach efforts to employees. Nationwide, with offices in Des Moines, has a companywide active grassroots political organization to encourage its employees to get involved in political participation.

“We all know how important voting is, and while the presidential race dominates the headlines, remember that down-ticket races are also extremely important,” said Chad Wilson, Nationwide’s associate vice president of government relations. “Our associates will be joining millions of voters who will be deciding the outcome of thousands of local, state and federal races, as well as ballot initiatives. During this year’s primary season, we have seen how close some elections have been, and it truly shows that every vote counts. Employees appreciate that we make it easy for them to vote.”

The insurance company established its employee-driven grassroots political organization, Civic Action Program (CAP), in 1978. CAP emphasizes bipartisanship through political participation with its 45,000 employees and agents in 48 states. The top goal of the organization is to give employees the tools to support their participation in activities such as exercising their right to vote, working as a poll worker or being involved in community activities, Wilson said.

Nationwide CAP’s political activities include providing employees with voting notices and on-site voter registration drives for primaries, general and special elections. Efforts began with the Iowa caucuses when all major U.S. presidential primary candidates, regardless of political af- filiation, were invited to visit Nationwide employees in Des Moines.

A majority of those candidates during the last three presidential election cycles have visited Nationwide, Wilson said.

More than 600 employees attended each event, which received national and international media coverage and gave employees an opportunity to personally interact with candidates. Each event was live-streamed to all employees, which allowed almost 30,000 people to have access to the visit or event. As a result, The Des Moines Register labeled Nationwide as a “hub of candidate activity.”

“By hosting the candidates, our associates were able to cast an informed caucus vote and take pride in knowing that they make a difference in the caucus outcome,” Wilson said. “Our focus for each event is not just to meet the candidate, but to remind (employees) to make it a priority to block their calendar and head to their local caucus to be a part of democracy.”

Nationwide encourages its employees to participate in get-out-the- vote efforts but does not direct for whom employees should vote, Wilson said. All candidates, regardless of party, also are invited to events.

Nationwide CAP also hosts forums, debates and other political edu- cation events across the country. This year for national Employee Voter Registration Week, the company hosted 13 voter registration stations in its offices. This is in addition to the voter registration drives that take place twice a year for primary and general elections.

The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is another resource for Iowa business owners who want to learn ways they can engage their em- ployees in the political process.

“We’re trying to make the connection for the employer, especially smaller employers who don’t focus on public policy because they’re busy growing their business, and helping the employer know how important it is to use their voice with their employees and customers to get their is- sues across,” said Steve Dust, the president and chief executive officer of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber.

The Alliance works on regional economic and community develop- ment issues in Waterloo/Cedar Falls and its surrounding areas. It has about 800 investors that represent 40,000 employees. It communicates its efforts with members through its investor forum meetings, where issues that affect business owners at the state level are discussed and members receive information about resources that are available such as the Iowa Prosperity Project and the iavotes.com website, Dust said.

The Alliance’s communications department also will share informa- tion about other election tools and resources with members through social media. The Alliance website (www.cedarvalleyalliance.com) has a voter toolkit with information about candidates and about where and how to register to vote, as well as links to other voting resources.

Dust said he wants employers to be prepared with facts so they can share the information with their employees, which will allow them to vote in a manner that best serves themselves and their jobs.

“There is so much high-dollar advertising by candidates and occasion- ally by issues that leaves us all asking what is real,” Dust said. “We know the employer has been seen as one of the most credible sources of infor- mation about what is real when it comes to business-related issues.”

Dust said the Alliance communicates the importance of an employer remaining nonpartisan but encourages employers to make a point of view on an issue known through appropriate channels — a mailer/flier, infor- mally through interoffice communications or during a meeting. Employ- ers are also encouraged to direct employees to BIPAC or the iowavotes. com website to learn more about candidates and issues.

“They gain points with their team by giving them a credible source so they can create their own opinions,” Dust said.

Read More:
A VIEW FROM THE TOP: Engage Your Employees in the Electoral Process
3 Weeks, 3 Ways to Engage Your Employees
A Go-To Election Resources: iavotes.com