1. Vote!
The most important way to be politically active is to vote. The message of physicians is heard best when it is their collective voice at the ballot box! 
Make sure you are registered to vote in time to make your voice heard in this year’s elections!

2. Host or Attend a Fundraiser
Fundraisers for candidates and for MOPAC are great opportunities to be politically active, meet candidates and elected officials, and network with other politically active physicians. Events of this kind also are effective settings to discuss key physician issues with current and potential legislators.

3. Host a Candidate at your Facility or Practice
Most candidates do not know what a physician’s day entails or how specific legislation and regulation affect their practice. By hosting a candidate at your facility or practice, you establish a relationship with that candidate and afford them a first-hand look at how the issues they vote on directly impact your ability to care for your patients. 

4. Host a Voter Registration Drive
It is amazing to think how many people in this country are not registered to vote or have not updated their voter registration information. Be proactive in ensuring your employees, colleagues and friends are properly registered. This can be done as a day in the office, or as an e-mail campaign.

5. Write an Op-Ed
Important issues affecting physicians around the country are often complicated and mis-interpreted. Op-eds serve as an avenue for physicians to communicate a pro-physician message, clarify complicated details of specific issues and counter misinterpretations and misrepresentations often seen in an election year.

6. Serve as a Media Spokesperson
Physicians are leaders in their communities, and the media looks to physicians for insight on important physician issues at the forefront of elections. By serving as a media spokesperson, you can be an effective voice for physicians with reporters, at press conferences and various media events.

7. Get to Know Your Candidates
Before making a decision on which candidate to support, research their positions on issues, ask them where they stand, and learn about their opponents. Once you know you are supporting the pro-physician candidate, offer to help the campaign in some capacity.

8. Volunteer with a Political Campaign
Volunteering directly with a pro-physician candidate’s campaign is a great way to start the relationship between constituent and legislator early. Candidates appreciate leaders in the community, like physicians, offering their time to help a campaign. In addition to volunteers with standard duties like making calls and distributing literature, candidates often find issue experts, finance committee members and other assets in their volunteer base.

9. Educate Others on Key Physician Issues
Physicians are not the only ones affected by key physician issues. Your employees, patients and family are also impacted by legislation and regulation of important health care issues. Make sure they understand how these issues affect your practice and why they should be important to them.

10. Get Out the Vote!
Your vote and the votes of your employees, colleagues, friends and family are critical to electing candidates who represent you. Encourage people to vote early or by absentee ballot. Give employees time to vote on Election Day. Most importantly, lead by example - making voting a priority.