With the Governorship and every seat in the Maryland General Assembly on the ballot this November, it’s important that Maryland businesses educate and engage their employees. As the election nears, the Maryland Chamber is working to make this as easy as possible.

The voter registration deadline for the November 7 General Election is next week, October 17. Help us get out the business vote by encouraging your employees and co-workers to register to vote by October 17, and remind them to vote on November 7. Here are a few simple suggestions for a workplace get-out-the-vote campaign:

• Urge your employees to register to vote and provide them voter registration information, as well as information on how to obtain an absentee ballot if they will be out of town. This information is available on www.mdvoteforbusiness.com. You can direct them to the site or print off the materials yourself for distribution.
• Remind them to vote by placing a reminder with their paycheck prior to Election Day –General Election is November 7.
• Encourage your employees to vote on Election Day by providing them paid time off to go to the polls. Offer anyone who will show you their voting stub extra time in the morning, at lunch or at the end of the day.
• Hold a contest to for voting participation. Have each division, office or department strive for 100 percent participation. Offer prizes or recognition for the winning group or groups.

In addition, help us spread the word about the Chamber’s election resource website, www.mdvoteforbusiness.com. Here they can access voter registration forms, absentee ballot applications, election news, candidate comparisons and more.

If you have any questions about how the Maryland Chamber can help you with your election year efforts, contact Will Burns at (410) 269-0642, (301) 261-2858 or wburns@mdchamber.org.