Credit Union Members Vote for Financial Democracy

I was called to the credit union movement late in my life. I didn’t know much about it well into my adulthood. Until I was first considering work at UFCU, I had no idea that right here in America there was such a thing as a not-for-profit financial institution that existed to serve people of poor and modest means. And that at a credit union you can do anything you can do at a bank - in fact, you can do more. Once I found out I was sold entirely - not just as a great place to work, but as a just cause I wholeheartedly believe in: one so noble, and with so much potential to create positive change across the world, I’ve now devoted my career to it.

I recently read that 44% of registered voters belong to a credit union. At first glance, that seemed like a remarkably high percentage. But as election season is upon us, I’ve reflected on that more, and I’ve decided it is an obvious, natural intersection of ideologies.

Consider the cooperative principles that drive all credit unions, including principle #2, democratic control, and principle #7, concern for community. Every Member of every credit union gets one equal vote. That’s each and every one of us, regardless of the number of our dollars on deposit. Our votes help determine the leadership of the cooperative, who in turn make decisions for the good of our Members and our communities. (As opposed to corporate Board members of big banks who make decisions based on profitability for shareholders). After all, credit unions exist for the good of the communities we serve, and we support everyone, including those who have not yet joined the credit union movement. You can say with confidence that what we do, we do because we are at heart, civic-minded.

And civic-mindedness is what brings me back to that natural intersection I mentioned. Gallup refers to a group of people they call likely voters. These are the folks we can reliably depend upon to show up at the polls. This gets pretty complicated to be sure, but in a nutshell, likely voters have a few characteristics in common. They tend to skew a little older than younger, they’re generally educated, and they tend to care about their communities. They are essentially civic-minded, on some level. So it’s no wonder that credit unions across the nation can lay claim to nearly half of all registered voters.

Your voice is unique, your opinion matters, and I encourage all of you to speak up at the ballot box. I hope you will make your voice heard in this upcoming election, for the sake of our communities and our nation.

The Credit Union National Association has a spectacular program called “Credit Unions Vote.” This program focuses on getting out the vote in the November elections. I want you to understand your stake in the upcoming elections, as Members or potential Members of credit unions. You can visit creditunionsvote.com to find more information, check your registration status, register to vote, participate in early voting, and even find your polling place.

Gallup reports that likely voters tend to answer YES to the following questions:

Have you voted before?
Are you registered to vote?
Do you plan to vote this year?
Do you know where your polling place is?

Most times I think I’m preaching to the choir when it comes to voting and activism. But during these days of pandemic fatigue we cannot take anything for granted as there is so very much to juggle, multi-task, and endure. If you are, or are not yet part of the credit union movement, I invite you to learn more - check out creditunionsvote.com, and let’s use our unique voices in the way our democracy intended: with liberty and justice for all.

Editors note: with thanks to Tamara Cryar for research and support