by “Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it.” – Susan B. Anthony
The Wisconsin Elections Commission estimates there were over 4.5 million voting age residents in Wisconsin in 2022. They have spreadsheets available if you’re interested, but in general, going back 20 plus years, spring elections have only inspired 11-34% of eligible voters to show up. We’re supposed to be a democracy in which the majority rules, and yet that small minority of our eligible voters has been calling the shots all by themselves in spring elections. Presidential elections, of course, draw more of us out of our homes – around 70% – but midterms going back to the 1980s show a range of only 40-60%. However, we all have an opportunity to improve on those percentages on April 4!
Have you ever noticed how Facebook and Instagram are full of happy people sporting “I Voted!” stickers on election day? Telling you what number they were at their poll? I love getting that sticker! It’s a reminder that we get to participate in the process that governs much of our day-to-day lives. That is empowerment. That is using your voice.
POLICY AFFECTS ALL ASPECTS OF THE BREAST CANCER EXPERIENCE
This is why the Wisconsin Breast Cancer Coalition’s mission includes educating legislators about the lived experience of breast cancer. Why we help them make good policy decisions that could eventually save lives. We need legislators who will listen to their constituents when they tell them what can be done better, and we need them to have the courage to stand up to outside pressures and do what’s right.
A perfect example of this can be found in the work of former State Representative Mike Rohrkaste (R-Neenah) when he listened to his constituent Gail Zeamer about the importance of notifying women that they have dense breasts after a mammogram. He introduced a bill to solve that problem, a bunch of voters called their representatives and asked them to support it and it became law in 2018.
It can be found in the efforts of current State Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R-Appleton) and Representative Nate Gustafson (R-Neenah) who also listened to their constituent Gail and introduced legislation to require that insurers cover the additional testing that women with dense breasts need beyond their mammograms. That bill, SB121, is our top state legislative priority right now and it has excellent bi-partisan support from 35 cosponsors – who are listening to those of us telling them why it’s so important.
WHAT MAKES THEM LISTEN?
One of the most amazing things I learned when I started in breast cancer advocacy almost 25 years ago, was that my legislators (actually, their staff) could pull up my voting record to see if I was a regular voter! Why is that important to them? Because if I’m a regular voter, and that legislator wants to stay in office, they need to listen up when I call in. If I don’t vote regularly, or at all, why should they care what I have to say to them? So, if you have an issue you want your representatives to pay attention to, not only do you need to build a relationship with them (and their staff!) but you need to vote in every election they’re running in. They can’t see who you vote for, only whether you voted or not. But they want your vote.
That’s right! It is YOUR VOTE and you can find out everything you need at that link. Importantly, you can be sure your registration is current and correct (you can update your name/address if needed). You can find out who your elected representatives are, where your polling place is, how to cast an absentee ballot, when the next election is, what’s on your ballot, and much more at this really user-friendly website. Using your address, it will connect you with your local clerk if you have questions and want to speak to a human being.
By the time you are reading this, your options to vote absentee or register online to vote have likely passed, however you can register to vote on the day of the election if you need to. Just call your clerk’s office for help with the documentation you’ll need to bring with you. Do not let these small barriers keep you from voting.
ONE MORE WAY TO USE YOUR VOICE IN APRIL
Your vote is your voice. It makes you an active participant in getting work done that has the possibility of improving and saving lives.
But if you want to really stand up and speak out, you can join us for our annual Advocacy Day at the Wisconsin State Capitol. We’ll be taking our stories to legislators in support of SB121 – asking them to support the bill and help advance it to the governor’s desk. So if you – or someone you know and love – have been told you have dense breasts, or are at high risk for breast cancer due to genetics or a strong family history, your story is important and they need to hear it.
This is how we will make change. We’ll show up. And we’ll inspire them to listen. It’s their JOB to listen to their constituents, but they can’t do their job if we don’t show up first.
Please consider joining us on April 19 for a day that, I promise you, will leave you feeling proud and empowered.
And don’t forget to vote on April 4!