Your vote counts! Kentucky Youth Advocates encourages all residents of voting age to register

Your vote is your voice! In celebration of National Voter Registration Day October 11, Kentucky Youth Advocates are encouraging all Kentuckians of voting age to register. The November 8th ballot will include presidential candidates, as well as U.S. representatives and senators, Kentucky state representatives and senators, and U.S., state, and local judge seats.

We’ve put together 5 reasons why Kentucky kids are depending on you to show up at your polling place on November 8th:

1. Kids aren’t old enough (yet) to vote, so they’re counting on you to advocate on their behalf. Whether they’re 17 days old or 17 years old, our youth need you to be their voice.

2. Big policies affect individual children. Many of the issues being debated in campaigns will affect kids you know-in your family, in your child’s classroom, or on the neighborhood playground.

3. Voters need to challenge elected officials to stand up for kids. A high voter turnout encourages them to do so and helps all of us hold elected officials accountable when they make decisions affecting kids and families.

4. State elections are just as important as national elections. Your vote on behalf of kids on November 8th will impact kids’ lives for at least the next four years. Check out the offices up for grabs.

5. Every vote matters. Sometimes elections are decided by a handful of votes. These elections are too important to kids to leave up to someone else.

You can submit a voter registration form online or by mail. The deadline to register is October 11th.

Other ways to take action on behalf of Kentucky kids:

• Submit Comments to CMS on Proposed Changes to Kentucky Medicaid Program – As child advocates, we are concerned with the many requirements in the Bevin Administration’s 1115 Medicaid Waiver proposal because they will create barriers to coverage for many parents covered through Medicaid expansion. The alert includes sample comments and instructions on submitting comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

• Thank Your U.S. Representative for Voting Yes on Youth Justice Bill – The U.S. House of Representatives passed a major bipartisan youth justice bill last week that prioritizes what works in juvenile justice, promotes opportunity for youth, and enhances public safety.

From Kentucky Youth Advocates