Presentation Title Subtitle, Presenter

1. Presentation Title Subtitle, Presenter

2. APhA-ASP Your Voice, Your Vote 2012 Campaign • Campaign to promote student pharmacist involvement in the 2012 Presidential Election • Encourages student pharmacists to advocate our position on key issues facing pharmacy • Provides chapters with resources to take action • Voting registration procedures • Absentee and early voting • Presidential candidates’ healthcare platforms • Other opportunities to take action as Election Day approaches

3. Making Your Voice Heard • Voting is the singlemost important action student pharmacists can take to have their voices heard • Why? • Support candidate who are aligned with your political views • Support candidates and policies that promote the value of a pharmacist

4. What Can One Vote Do? • 1800: Thomas Jefferson was elected President by one electoral vote • 1845: One vote made Texas part of the United States • 1960: John F. Kennedy was elected President by carrying one state by less than one popular vote per precinct

5. Presidential Elections 101 • The U.S. Constitution spells out the basic presidential election process. The 12th, 22nd, and 23rd Amendments modified this process. • The U.S. Constitution requires the following to be eligible for presidential candidacy: • At least 35 years old • A natural born citizen of the United States • A resident of the United States for 14 years

6. Presidential Elections 101 • Step 1: Primaries and Caucuses • Primaries: Candidates are awarded a certain number of delegates to represent them at the national convention. • Caucuses: Leaders of a political party meet to decide upon candidates for Presidency. • Step 2: National Conventions • Delegates nationwide gather to finalize each political party’s Presidential nominee. • Winner chooses a running mate to be the candidate for Vice President.

7. Presidential Elections 101 • Step 3: The General (or Popular) Election • Voters in each state cast their vote for a group of people known as the electors who comprise the Electoral College. • The number of votes determines how many electoral voters a candidate receives. • Step 4: The Electoral College • Consists of 538 electors. A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the President. • Each state’s entitled allotment of electors corresponds to the number of members in its Congressional delegation: one for each member in the House of Representatives and two for a state’s Senators.

8. Presidential Elections 101 • Step 4: The Electoral College • In December, electors vote for a Presidential candidate based on the results of the general election in their state. • Ballots are sent to Congress and the National Archives. • On January 6th, each state’s electoral votes are counted before a Joint Session of Congress and a winner is announced. • Step 5: Inauguration • On January 20th, the President takes the oath of office to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

9. The Candidates Mitt Romney photo by Gage Skidmore

10. Presidential Candidates on Healthcare • President Barack Obama supported the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010, which: • Bars insurance companies from dropping patients when they get sick, or limiting the benefit amount • Prohibits discriminating against or charging higher rates for individuals with pre-existing conditions • Allows young adults to stay on their parents’ plans • Allows individuals with income up to 133% of the poverty line to qualify for Medicaid • Fines individuals who do not have insurance $695 • Requires complete coverage of preventative care

11. Presidential Candidates on Healthcare Governor Mitt Romney • Supports the repeal of the Affordable Care Act • Would allow states, not the federal government, to set standards and requirements for both Medicaid and private insurance plans • Would require individuals to maintain continuous coverage in order to avoid discrimination based on pre-existing conditions • Would increase flexibility of and competition between insurance plans

12. Presidential Candidates on Women’s Health • President Barack Obama • The ACA requires coverage of preventative care with no out-of-pocket cost, which includes: well-woman visits, contraceptive methods and counseling, STD counseling, testing for HIV and HPV, gestational diabetes screening, breastfeeding support, domestic violence counseling, and cancer screenings • The ACA prohibits insurance companies from charging different premiums based on gender • The ACA requires all insurance plans to include maternity benefits

13. Presidential Candidates on Women’s Health • Governor Mitt Romney • Supports the Blunt Amendment, a congressional proposal allowing employers to not cover certain services (such as contraception) on their insurance plans because of their beliefs • Has stated that he would eliminate federal funding for women’s preventative health services provided by Planned Parenthood • Would eliminate most federal requirements for health insurance plan benefits, including preventative care

14. Presidential Candidates on Medicare • President Barack Obama • The ACA will increase Medicare’s solvency by reducing costs by $700 billion due to waste, fraud, and inefficiencies over the next ten years. These cuts do not affect benefits, but providers will receive less reimbursement if costs grow faster than projected • Seniors now receive preventative care, including an annual wellness visit, cancer screenings, and flu shots, at no out-of-pocket cost • Bonus payments to primary care providers are designed to increase access to care

15. Presidential Candidates on Medicare Governor Mitt Romney • Seniors would receive a fixed-amount benefit to spend towards premiums and other costs of the insurance plan of their choice • “Traditional” government-administered Medicare would compete with private insurance plans • All plans would provide benefits at least equivalent to those provided by Medicare today • Seniors would be financially responsible for any costs over those covered by the fixed-amount benefit

16. Presidential Candidates on Healthcare Major Issues Facing Pharmacy

18. Registering to Vote • Must be registered in order to vote • Except in North Dakota • Requirements for registration • U.S. Citizen • 18 years of age on or before election day • Be a resident in the state you plan to register • Most states require registration 30 days prior to the election

19. Where can I register? • Mail-in registration forms • Local registrar of voters office • Other locations vary by state • Department of Motor Vehicles • Public Libraries • College & Universities • Office of the Country Clerk • Organized Voter Registration Drives • Online

20. How do I register to vote? Download a National Voter Registration Form at http://www.eac.gov/voter_resources/register_to_vote.aspx and then mail the form to the address provided OR Contact your local registrar of voters

21. Preparing for Election Day • Locate and confirm your polling place • Educate yourself on the candidates • Use a variety of media sources • Mark your calendars for November 6

22. Absentee and Early Voting • For those who are unable to make it to the polls on election day • Most states do not require a reason to vote early • Conducted via mail or in person • Must ask for a ballot to be mailed to your physical address • Special requirements for college dormitories

23. FAQs when registering • Does registration cost anything? • No, it is free. • How do I know if I am already registered to vote? • If you are not sure if you have registered before, you should call your Registrar of Voters or City/County Elections Office and ask if you are registered. • Am I registered once I fill out and mail the registration form? • You must receive your voter registration card in order to be registered. If you have not received your card you can call your Registrar of Voters or City/County Elections Office and ask if you are registered. • Do I have to register every time I vote? • No. The only times you have to reregister are when you move, change your name, want to change your political party, or if you have completed all conditions of a felony charge. • If I didn’t vote in the last election do I need to register again? • If you registered but did not vote you are still registered and do not need to register • again.

24. Campaigning • What is a political campaign? • An organized effort which seeks to influence the decision making process • To educate or push a particular stance on an issue • Another way to support initiatives that improve the practice of pharmacy

25. How to get involved with a campaign? • Getting involved • Passing out stickers or pamphlets • Writing e-mails • Calling or visiting voters • Organizing meetings • Staffing events and Rallies • It can take as much or as little time as you have available

26. Tips for Campaigns • Legislators’ offices may not call you back or answer your email message • This doesn’t mean that they don’t need your help • Polite persistence is key •  Communicate any special skills you have when volunteering • If you want to volunteer on a regular basis, consider applying to become an intern • Candidates with a party affiliation may have staff from the state around

27. APhA-ASP Your Voice, Your Vote 2012 Campaign • President Obama’s Campaign • Action Center: • https://my.barackobama.com/page/s/become-a-volunteer?source=primary-nav • Governor Romney’s Campaign • Action Center: • http://www.mittromney.com/action

28. Ideas for Your Chapter • Host a Voters Registration or Pledge Drive • Host patient care events at polling sites • Collaborate with organizations focused on national health: • Million Hearts Campaign • Voteandvax.org • Educate your school and community • Raise funds for the APhA PAC

29. It starts with one…Vote! • Contact your • APhA-ASP Chapter SPAN Liaison • (Insert name) • APhA-ASP Policy Standing Committee Regional Liaison • (Insert name) • Local Registrar of Voters

30. Questions?