From Congress to local school boards, lawmakers at all levels of government make decisions every day that impact the ability of the more than seven million American construction workers to earn a wage. While midterm elections don’t get the publicity of a presidential election, they nonetheless hold just as much significance in shaping legislative outcomes at the federal, state and local level in the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election.
Consider the scope of races at stake this midterm election:
- at least 40 highly competitive U.S. House races, more than twice as many at the same point in the cycle compared to 2014;
- 10 Senate Democrats up for re-election in red states won by President Trump in 2016, while just one Republican stands for re-election in a state Hillary Clinton carried;
- more than half of 36 gubernatorial races could flip from one party to another; and
- 6,066 state legislative seats with regularly scheduled elections across 46 states.
These figures don’t include the thousands of city and county commissioners, local school board members, judges and countless other public officials who will appear on ballots this fall. At every level, these individuals make decisions that impact the ability of contractors to win and deliver work for their employees and their families.
Not all industries are affected by public policy the way construction is, which is why Associated Builders and Contractors is relaunching ABCVotes.com to prepare member companies for the 2018 midterms. ABCVotes.com is back with a brand new design and new features to give members the tools they need throughout election season. ABCVotes.com is a one-stop resource for contractors where users can access more election information than ever before.
- Find critical dates for early voting periods, absentee ballot deadlines and voter registration cutoffs;
- View a list of general election candidates running for federal office and, new for 2018, state-level candidate information on statewide and state legislative offices—all customized based on your home address. Look for the “ABC Supported” designation to see who ABC has backed in each state/area.
- Visitors also have access to familiar content, such as policy issue updates, legal guidance on how ABC chapters and member companies can stay compliant, and how to spread the word through social media and print materials.
Expanding on ABCVotes.com, ABC has launched WeBuildAmerica.com to engage construction workers of every level in the 2018 midterm elections. WeBuildAmerica.com incorporates some similar features from ABCVotes.com and the following additional features to enhance the user experience.
- A welcome video articulates the importance of voting this November, built with images from ABC competitions and member company jobsites.
- New for 2018, ABC member companies can generate a customized URL and webpage that incorporates their company’s logo. Proudly display your brand as you share vital election information with employees and coworkers and let them know you stand ready to build America.
- Get out and vote by accessing personalized voting guides complete with all the information needed to be prepared this November.
While the issues that face the construction industry may not make the day-to-day headlines in the battle for Congress, governorships and state houses, make no mistake, contractors are voting for their jobs and opportunities this November. By utilizing these websites and the materials and information contained therein, contractors and their employees can let lawmakers know they’ll be held accountable for the decisions that impact the construction industry by voting this November.
