Hey everyone,

We think it's time for a change in how we do our union voting. Right now, not everyone gets a fair shot, with mail-in ballots only, at having their voice heard.

In addition to mail-in ballots, many of us believe offering in-person school chapter voting and/or electronic voting could really help out to energize our union.

It’s all about making things easier and more accessible for everyone. This would make our union more democratic and ensure everyone's opinions are counted.

Some of us prefer showing up and voting in person at our schools, which is great for learning more about the issues and having those important face-to-face conversations. Others might find it tough due to busy schedules or other reasons, so electronic voting could be a game-changer. Imagine being able to vote securely from anywhere – super convenient, right?

Sadly, to our detriment no more than 25% of UFT members vote in our triennial union citywide elections. Many toss their ballots in the trash not knowing what it even is.

Clearly, all of this has to change.

By giving us more options, we’d see a lot more people participating. This means our decisions would better reflect what we all want and need.

We already vote for our contracts in our chapters. We vote electronically for school based options. We’ve allowed for electronic voting at our delegate assemblies, also. Many other unions have moved to digital ballots.

In the end, it would make our union stronger and more united. Let’s push for these changes and make sure every voice is heard loud and clear.

The undersigned calls on our union, the United Federation of Teachers, to allow for in-person chapter voting and/or electronic voting for our next citywide election in 2025 and beyond.

- Katie Anskat
NYC teacher and UFT delegate

*** Sign your name along with Katie!