Take advantage of your right to vote
TODD STOTTLEMYER NFIB President and CEO
Vote early and often. That old saying often heard around Election Day is meant as a

funny throwback to the days of rampant vote fraud and ballot-box stuffing. Although said in jest, there's nothing funny about denying someone the right to vote.

And yet 32 million potential voters failed to register in 2004, denying themselves that very right because they never took the time to exercise this most basic of American rights. In addition, according to the Census Bureau, 19 million registered voters failed to cast their ballots in 2000; 10 percent of them said business kept them from voting.

Think about that: Nearly 2 million people who could have supported business-friendly candidates stayed at work and let others decide who would represent them in public office.

Of course, every small-business owner is busy managing employees, handling the paperwork and making sure customers are happy. But most still vote: According to a 2005 NFIB National Small-Business Poll, 95 percent of small-business owners are registered to vote, and 84 percent usually do vote. That's a good start. Now it's time to think about encouraging employees, family members, customers and vendors to vote.

Vote early - As a small-business owner, you can make sure you vote regardless of what crisis might arise on Election Day. If you're already registered, you can go to www.NFIB.com/politics for information about ways to vote before Election Day. Voters can either complete an absentee ballot and send it in by mail or, in some states, vote early in person at designated locations.

Vote often - figuratively speaking, of course. NFIB surveys have shown that 96 percent of small-business owners believe that every citizen should participate in the political process. And they can multiply the power of that vote by urging employees, family members, customers and vendors to support candidates and issues that will improve the regulatory and economic environment for small business.

Every small-business owner should take the time to talk to employees about the impact of higher taxes and burdensome regulation. Let them know that every extra bit of paperwork the government forces upon the company has a potential negative impact on their paychecks and level of benefits. Tell your family how the impact of government at every level doesn't end at your small business, but comes right in the front door at home and affects them, too.

Thank your customers for their business and urge them to help you reduce the costs of their purchases by voting to ease the burden of excessive government regulation. For more help, visit www.NFIB.com/politics where you'll find a variety of materials, talking points and even a new video to help you discuss these relevant issues with others.

And there's still time before Election Day to support pro-small-business candidates with a financial contribution, use of your facilities for a campaign event, or by volunteering to help get out the vote. Remember, Election Day is not the first day to vote; it is the last.

Todd Stottlemyer is president and CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business.