Primary elections offer opportunity to maximize your vote
Planning ahead often provides a recipe for success. And the start of a new year signals that primary elections soon will be in full swing, providing you an opportunity to have your say in who may ultimately represent you at the federal, state and local levels of government.
Primary elections throughout the country will be used by political parties to determine which candidates will vie for your support on the Nov. 5 presidential election ballot.
In March, voters in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas will cast primary ballots for state offices. Voters in Maryland and Pennsylvania will follow suit in April.
The month of May will see voters in seven states – Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska, Oregon and West Virginia – cast ballots for state offices.
Primary elections for state offices in June are as follows: Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and Virginia.
No state has a primary scheduled for July.
August is the busiest month for state primaries. Voters in Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming will cast primary ballots at that time. Voters in Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island will wrap up the primary season in September.
Truckers already registered to vote would be wise to make the effort to cast their primary ballots. While primary elections don’t receive the same attention as general elections, they are just as important, if not more important, in maximizing your influence on who will represent you.
In addition to deciding various races for elected offices, a variety of other issues also are present on primary ballots. Often, these include issues of significance to the trucking industry.
Truckers not yet registered to vote or who need to re-register due to a recent change of address can visit FightingForTruckers.com for information on how to do so. Those without internet access or who need assistance can call the OOIDA Membership Department at 816-229-5791, Ext. 4906. LL
Find state-specific trucking news here.