It’s go time!
Election Day 2026 is about a month away, and NEA-Retired members are looking to channel their enthusiasm, energy, and concern for the future into action at the polls. But what are the most effective ways between now and Tuesday, November 3, to engage voters and persuade them to vote for candidates who will fight for public education and our democracy? NEA Today for NEA-Retired spoke with our experts to find out how you can still make an impact.
Protecting public education and unions
Every election is consequential, says Tracy Bricchi, a retired math and physics teacher, and a state legislator in New Hampshire, but this one feels existential.
“This election is make or break for public education and the values educators stand for,” says Bricchi, citing the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education and a universal voucher scheme in her state that subsidizes private school for any student, regardless of income, and lacks any accountability.
Dwayne Marshall, who recently retired as a social studies and African American history teacher in Ohio, warns that the Republican candidate for governor in his state has a plan to strip educators—but not other public employees—of their collective bargaining rights. “That makes this a dangerous election for our profession,” he says.
Michelle McGrorty and Cynthia Sebian-Lander, election strategists at NEA, frequently hear from members who are apprehensive about Election Day and, this year especially, the climate for voting.
What people need to know, the strategists say, is: Elections will happen—despite all the static in the background. And NEA-Retired members are uniquely positioned to be effective messengers about the candidates and issues.
Connecting with other voters
The first step, McGrorty and Sebian-Lander advise, is to map out your voting plan. That includes learning who the pro-public education candidates are in your state and then voting by mail or voting early in person. NEA recommends mailing ballots at least two weeks before Election Day. (Find more information at edvotes.org)
Next, you can tap into your personal and professional networks to connect with other voters. As former educators who taught thousands of students over the decades, NEA-Retired members have a broad reach. Additionally, educators enjoy a reputation for trustworthiness matched by few others, according to Gallup’s annual polling on the nation’s most-trusted professions.
“The power of NEA in getting out the vote is greater than that of other organizations because we have members across so many demographics,” McGrorty says.
Keeping it real
Use your voice “to break through all the noise,” McGrorty urges. NEA’s voter engagement program, Promote the Vote, provides online tools for engaging family and friends in conversations about the midterms. “As a voter, you’re getting at least one text message a day about the election, phone calls, door-knocks, and what feels like 8,000 pieces of mail. We block it out and we just hit delete,” Sebian-Lander says. “The idea of Promote the Vote is that someone you have a connection with will … read a text message or take a call from you.”
The effectiveness of one-on-one conversations doesn’t surprise Washington retiree Michael Priser, who serves as communications chair for the Federal Education Association-Retired and on NEA’s Legislative Committee. When a recent ballot in his state included a school bond issue, a neighbor asked him how he was planning to vote. Her family opposed the bond issue, but she voted to support it after Priser explained its benefits. “She still comes to me for advice every time,” he says.
Building a network
To help identify who is in your network, simply jot down the names of people you know, or Promote the Vote offers online tools that can help you build a list of contacts.
“Retirees can leverage their voice and power by asking themselves, ‘Who did I work with? Who were my students’ parents? If I drove a school bus, are there students or parents I still run into? How about the barista at my coffee shop? If I volunteer at a library or my church, who are the people I see on a regular basis?’” says Sebian-Lander.
List in hand, now it’s time to consider what your contacts care about.
Talking about issues, not candidates
Marshall, a former member of the NEA Legislative Committee, says he sticks to what he knows will engage those in his network and avoids emotional appeals.
“With my conservative friends, I go to them with facts, not with worries about what might happen. I ask them: ‘If [Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican candidate for governor in Ohio] takes away educators’ bargaining rights, like he says he will, how will that affect a teacher’s ability to advocate for what your grandchildren need?’” he says. “That will destroy the union, and it will also deeply hurt our ability to speak up for students.”
The entry point, Bricchi says, could be the high cost of groceries or the shortage of affordable housing. She emphasizes “talking about the issues, not the people.”
Bricchi encourages retirees to post on Facebook and other social media. In small communities, she adds, a letter to the editor from a retired educator can also be influential, especially if you outline the pro-public education positions you want candidates to support.
Bricchi urges retirees to attend candidate events to learn more about who’s running. “Ask about where they stand on vouchers and dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. If they are talking about ‘lowering costs,’ you need to know what their plan is for doing that. And if you can’t ask the candidate, get to a staffer,” she says. It’s also helpful, the NEA strategists say, to offer voters rides to drop boxes for mail-in ballots or to the polls to vote in person. They also advise that if you vote in person on Election Day and see voters who need assistance with their ballot, or if you spot anything that looks suspicious, you should alert an election official. Do not take action on your own. (Or call the Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE to report any concerns.)
Looking beyond 2026
It’s never too soon to start thinking about the next election. Once the votes are cast in 2026, Marshall encourages retirees to stay involved. You can serve on candidate-screening committees for your NEA local or state affiliate, like Marshall did this year. You can also volunteer for a candidate’s campaign or even run for office yourself—something Marshall is also considering.
This year, he knows exactly what he’ll be doing on the first Tuesday in November. After years of encouraging his students to work at a polling place on Election Day, he finally gets to do it himself.
“I have always believed that as a government teacher and a citizen, it is something I should do,” he says. “Sure, I have some concerns about the election. But my belief in the process is more powerful than my concerns. If African Americans in the ’50s could risk their lives registering to vote, then I can definitely go work at the polls.”
Promote the VOTE
Promote the Vote is NEA’s voter engagement initiative, in partnership with the nonprofit Empower Project. Learn how to engage registered voters through texting or phone banks. You can also find out about election rules and deadlines in your area and how you can get involved at edvotes.org.
Who is on the ballot?
- U.S. Senate Elections in 33 States
- U.S. House of Representatives - All 435 voting seats (plus five non-voting seats)
- Governors in 39 States
The majority of states will hold elections for state legislatures, county and local boards, school boards, and a variety of other offices.
What can you do?
- Vote by mail and mail your ballot in two weeks early.
- Vote early in person if voting by mail is not possible. (Check your state’s rules.)
- If you can’t vote by mail or vote early, vote on Election Day, November 3.
- Build a list of people you know and already have even casual conversations with.
- Talk to them about the election by raising an issue they care about.
- Reach out the way you usually would, such as text, social media, phone call, etc.
