Brittany Farrell | April 14, 2010 | SHARE: 
The midterm elections scheduled for November 2, 2010 have been anticipated as monumental, once-in-a-lifetime, a mandate, and more. Whatever else, voting is the most fundamental part of the American experiment in self-governance. There is always a lot happening in election years like 2010—citizens volunteer to run as candidates to represent their neighbors in government, campaign committees are formed, volunteers are organized, citizens register to vote for the first time, political parties hold primary elections to choose candidates, radios and televisions are inundated with political advertisements, and most importantly, voters elect men and women to conduct the business of government.
The next three pages include a timeline of important dates for North Carolina’s primary and general elections, as well as a voter registration form with instructions. Use the form to make sure that you and your family are registered to vote, and then get involved. Educate yourself on the issues. Use our 2010 Voter Guide to educate yourself on the candidates’ positions. Educate yourself on the process and hold a voter registration drive at your church, office, or community center. Join a campaign for a candidate or issue that is especially important to you. The North Carolina Family Policy Council’s Web site is full of resources.
On or about April 12, our 2010 Primary Voter Guide will be available online at ncfamily.org. Questionnaires were sent to over 325 candidates running for seats where at least one party has a primary in the North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina’s congressional delegation, and State-level and Superior Courts. The questions ranged from marriage to taxation to education to abortion and more.
In October, both an online and print version of the 2010 Voter Guide will be available for all the state-level General Election races. This is the fourth election for which the North Carolina Family Policy Council has produced a voter guide, and as in years past, we expect over a million North Carolina voters to see and use it before election day in November.
Pages 19-20 in this magazine are a voter registration application for North Carolina. The form can be torn out, completed, and mailed to your county’s Board of Elections for any county in North Carolina. Once mailed, you can expect to receive your voter registration card in two to four weeks. If you are already registered, give the form to your spouse, voting age child, neighbor, co-worker or friend. The important thing is to get registered. Any citizens who will be 18 years old by November 2, 2010 should be registered to vote in time for the May primary election. There is no shortage of written material on the important duty and privilege of voting, but you must be registered to fulfill and take advantage of that right.
We have also updated our voter registration packet for use by community organizations and by pastors and lay leaders in churches. This is available online at ncfamily.org. With recent decisions from courts and legislatures across our country making it clear that traditional family values are under attack as never before, we know that it is time for the church to help rekindle the spirit of liberty and freedom that has defined our great nation and has been beneficial for the continued spread of the truth.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the North Carolina Family Policy Council is keenly aware of the requirements of the law regarding voter registration. We have published a policy paper on why churches should be involved and what churches may and may not do when it comes to voter registration and other activities that are related to civic responsibility. We encourage you to visit our Web site and familiarize yourself with this material and understand that churches and other nonprofit groups are permitted to conduct voter registration as long as it is done in a nonpartisan manner
Your participation is important because there are many other voices ready and willing to proclaim their beliefs about society and public policy. Very often, their message is in direct contradiction to truth. If citizens, pastors, and churches do not speak out in defense of truth in the public policy arena, there will be a critical voice missing from the debate. People of faith must be heard in order for the government to properly fulfill its obligation to serve and protect the people. Make yourself an effective voice. Register to vote. Educate yourself. Then get out and VOTE!
