The semester is back in gear, pumpkin spice is all around you, and it’s officially election season! Higher education has traditionally received minimal attention during campaign season but this election cycle has witnessed sweeping proposals; higher ed has become a leading issue on campaign trails this year.

Candidates are out to earn YOUR vote, so it’s an important time to have legislators hear your priorities. When you meet legislators at events or they have knocked on your door, it’s an opportunity to ask them about the issues you care about like community college funding or debt-free higher education.

[caption id="attachment_4986" align="aligncenter" width="224"]4Cs Bryan Bonina signs the pledge to be a Higher Education Voter![/caption]

Our parent union, SEIU, is launching GOTV U, led by higher education employees organizing under the banner Faculty Forward to bring faculty, staff, and students to the polls. Historically, campus turnout has been critical to candidates’ ability to win, with many crediting President Obama’s 2012 win to college turnout.

Join the 4Cs and other faculty, staff, students, and parents across the nation in pledging to be a higher education voter. What does it mean to #VoteHigher? We’re standing together and voting for candidates who will join the fight for quality, accessible higher education; help students graduate free of debt; and pay campus staff a minimum of $15/hour.

4Cs organizers will have pledge cards at chapter meetings and at other chapter events through elections. But you don’t have to wait to see one of the organizers in person; you can sign the pledge online here.

If you are active in politics, you know that GOTV stands for Get Out the Vote and the U signifies universities or colleges. (But also everything becomes an acronym now because of Twitter so you can Tweet #GOTVU and still have 134 characters left).

Join us in making higher education a powerful voice in this year’s elections, from local and state elections to the race for President!