2-Oct-Nov 2020 ELECTION pp 12-20 Advisor

VOTING

OCTOBER – NOVEMBER 2020 CEA ADVISOR 7

CEA HELPS YOU MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS IN THE VOTING BOOTH Report cards for legislators show who gets high marks for public education, who fails to make the grade

Every election season, CEA issues a legislator report card and honor roll that evaluates legislative candidates’ positions on issues that matter to teachers. The 2019-2020 CEA Report Card score takes into account incumbent legislators’ votes on CEA priority bills and legislation that is important to our members. In 2019 this included issues like funding for education, minority teacher recruitment, and union access and the right to organize. The score also takes into account a legislator’s advocacy, legislative action, and responsiveness. With election season in full swing, it’s important to know which incumbents voted with teachers, who went against us, and which new candidates are staunch supporters of public education. “We have heard from our members that they want the facts so that they can make their own decisions at the ballot box,” says CEA President Jeff Leake. In the 2019 legislative session, who decided to plug the state’s budget deficit with a payroll tax on teachers? Who voted to roll back that teacher tax? Who demanded greater protection for teachers and greater supports for students whose behavior endangers others? Who didn’t? Who upheld the standards for teacher certification that you worked so hard to achieve? Who is willing to fast-track certification for less- qualified candidates? Not only did CEA examine voting records, but the association also distributed questionnaires to every candidate running for office and invited candidates to participate in interviews about education issues. Many took CEA up on these offers; others ignored the association’s requests and questionnaires. To see how candidates responded to the CEA questionnaire, go to cea.org/ legislator-report-card . Just in time for Election Day, November 3, see who’s a true ally in the fight for quality public education

and whose campaign promises fall short. publicizing legislators’ voting records and priorities so that you can see where they stand on the issues that matter to you. CEA’s report card recognizes legislators who are committed to giving students more opportunities for success and are working hard to improve public education and the teaching profession in Connecticut. It evaluates legislators on • Their voting records and co-sponsorship of bills that either advance or stymie CEA education priorities How it works CEA is

• Their advocacy for students, teachers, and public schools in public hearings, on the chamber floor, in the press, and among their peers in the legislative environment • Their responsiveness to requests to meet with CEA members and staff • Their efforts to advance CEA’s priorities over the past two-year legislative cycle, including § Funding public education § Preserving collective bargaining § Enhancing the teaching profession § Protecting the pension system § Keeping schools safe § Upholding teacher certification standards § Supporting sound education policy Why it matters “This report card takes into consideration how lawmakers voted on key bills and how willing they were to engage with CEA and its members and listen to our concerns,” says Leake. “This system is transparent and holds candidates accountable, which matters at a time when the rights of

both public- and private-sector employees, including their right to bargain collectively, are under constant attack.” All 187 Connecticut General Assembly seats and all five seats in Connecticut’s congressional delegation are up for grabs, as is the office of the president. (See CEA’s endorsed presidential and congressional candidates on pages 2-5.) “Let’s take a look at the records of those who are running and elect those who will look out for teachers,” says Leake. Find out who’s running in your district and where they stand on issues of importance to you. CEA’s District Comparison ( cea.org/district- comparison ) lets you compare the candidates in your city or town. Newcomers With many newcomers seeking office, not everyone has had an opportunity to vote on key bills. So, how has CEA evaluated candidates without a legislative record? CEA Political Action Committee (CEA PAC) Chair Bob Brown, a

retired teacher and former president of the Southington Education Association, explains. “The CEA PAC has distributed candidate questionnaires and held virtual interviews all summer long to help us better understand candidates’ positions on issues that matter to educators. We also sought additional information about those with no voting records. Did anyone locally know anything about them? How supportive were they, and how willing have they been to work with teachers?” Additionally, says Brown, significant emphasis was placed on a candidate’s actions involving the rights of teachers to have a voice in the education of their students, the working and learning conditions at their schools, and the ability to bargain for fair wages and benefits. “We are sharing those results with our members to help in their voting decisions, because the people we elect to represent us should care about our students, our profession, and the strength of our public schools.”

HOW WILL YOU VOTE THIS YEAR? In person or absentee?

For the first time ever, all registered voters in Connecticut are eligible to vote by mail—via absentee ballot—because of COVID-19. Those who wish to vote in person may still do so. Election Day is November 3. Be sure to vote. The outcome of this year’s election will be as important as ever for students and teachers.

VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT 1. Applications for absentee ballots will be mailed to all registered voters and are also available at portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election- Services/Voter-Information/Absentee- Voting . Fill out the application. In Section II, any voter may check off the “COVID-19” option as a reason for requesting an absentee ballot. 2. Return your application in the enclosed addressed prepaid envelope.

3. Your absentee ballot will be mailed directly to you by your municipal clerk. 4. Drop your completed ballot in the Official Ballot Drop Box outside your town/city hall. If you are unable to use the Drop Box, mail your completed ballot using the enclosed, prepaid envelope. VOTE IN PERSON Polls will be open on Tuesday, November 3, from 6:00am to 8:00pm.