Countdown to Election Day
U.S. Chamber Leads Voter Education Effort
 Workers in Arlington, Virginia, sign up for U.S. Chamber voter education e-mails and take home VoteForBusiness souvenirs. After months of listening to political candidates on the campaign trail, America's businesses are getting ready to speak--and the stakes couldn't be higher.
"The results of this year's election will have an enormous impact on the competitiveness of our country's businesses and workers," according to Bill Miller, the U.S. Chamber's national political director. "Through its support of pro-growth candidates, the business community will have a say on energy policy, health care, taxes, trade, and other vital issues."
The Chamber is urging member businesses to participate in the election in one or more of the following ways:
- Vote. If you will be unable to vote on November 4, vote early or by absentee ballot. Encourage your employees to do the same.
- Volunteer. Offer to work on an individual campaign or as a poll watcher on Election Day. Campaigns often need volunteer coordinators to organize neighborhoods and get people to the polls.
- Educate. Learn about the candidates and the issues and distribute information in the workplace. Break rooms and common areas are good spots to post information. Surveys show that employees want to hear from their employers on issues that could affect the future of their companies and their jobs. Go to www.voteforbusiness.com for resources or to build your own customized, co-branded Web site that includes information on how to register, where to vote, and profiles of the candidates and the issues.
- Make a financial contribution. Individuals can contribute up to $2,300 per election to federal candidates and up to $28,500 per year to national party committees.
- Participate in debates. Contact your elected officials, newspaper editors, and talk radio hosts to let them know where you stand on the issues.
Chamber Engages in Voter Education
The Chamber in 2008 has vastly expanded its voter education program and will reach more member companies, employer-based organizations, state and local chambers of commerce, and national trade and professional associations than in previous election years. This comprehensive effort includes the following:
- Paid and earned media. The Chamber began its paid media efforts earlier than ever in 2008. It has placed dozens of issue-focused television and radio advertisements in key states and congressional districts from coast to coast.
- Direct voter contact. The Chamber is reaching voters directly through face-to-face, phone, e-mail, and direct mail communications on issues relevant to more than 30 key Senate and House races. In 2006, the Chamber put 274 people on the ground to assist with get-out-the-vote efforts; sent 13.5 million pieces of mail and 18.8 million e-mails; and made 12.5 million phone calls. The Chamber expects to exceed that output this year.
- Bus tours. This year the Chamber launched not one but two VoteForBusiness bus tours to meet, educate, and register voters. The two buses crossed 32 states and covered 8,000 miles before ending at the national conventions in Denver and Minneapolis. Chamber policy experts were onboard to help citizens learn more about the issues, where their legislators stand, and how to utilize the Chamber's online grassroots tools. Thousands of people nationwide followed the tour online at www.voteforbusiness.com, accessing photos, blog posts, and videos taken from the road.
- Policy debate. In partnership with the Center for American Progress, a progressive Washington, D.C., think tank, the Chamber launched Dear 44, a weekly policy debate on the most difficult and important issues that will greet the next president. The debates appear every Monday through Election Day on www.politico.com/dear44. Further, spokespeople for the presidential campaigns came to the Chamber to participate in policy discussions about health care, intellectual property, and trade.
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