The new year will usher in a new president, a new Congress and new state legislators. It also provides electric cooperative members like YOU more opportunities to demonstrate our collective political strength.

Grassroots advocacy and political engagement are essential for a healthy democracy. From communicating directly with policymakers and signing petitions, to posting on social media and attending town halls, there are many ways to ensure your voice is heard as lawmakers shape policies that will affect your communities. When you are politically engaged, you are actively participating in the democratic process.

Political engagement starts with understanding which policies are important to your family, community and co-op and how those policies can affect your way of life. As a member of Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative, you know your community best. This knowledge will empower you to make informed decisions – especially about candidates running for political office. 

Elected officials work for us and they want to hear from you. When you engage directly with a policymaker, you hold them accountable for their decisions. When you send emails and letters, attend town hall meetings or meet with policymakers or their staff, you are sharing your co-op story and reinforcing what matters to you and your family. Your voice matters. The electric co-op voice matters.  

Political engagement helps tell the co-op story and educates policymakers on the value co-ops bring to local communities. It reinforces your co-op’s commitment to provide safe, reliable, affordable power. And it helps create valuable relationships built on trust and understanding.  

How can you tell your co-op story?

Voices for Cooperative Power (VCP) can help you become more politically engaged. VCP is a national network of over 1 million Americans dedicated to transforming co-op communities like ours. VCP members communicate with policymakers on the localized, community-based approach electric co-ops take to keeping the lights on. We take a stand when policy decisions threaten our access to safe, reliable, affordable power. As job creators, economic drivers, and, most importantly, community members, co-ops play a key role in the future of rural and suburban America. More than 42 million Americans rely on electric co-ops to power their homes, farms, businesses, industries and schools. VCP helps ensure these voices are heard. 

By becoming a member of VCP, you will receive regular updates on key issues that affect your electric cooperative and your community. As a member, you will have opportunities to communicate with your policymakers on those key issues. VCP members also have access to voter resources, including guidance on how to be a co-op voter. 
To become a VCP member, click here. Share your co-op story. Be a co-op voter. Together, we will make a difference.