• Vote tomorrow November 7th!

Vote tomorrow November 7th!

On Nov. 7, North Carolina voters will go to the polls to elect 170 members of the General Assembly, 13 members of the U .S. House of Representatives, four of seven North Carolina Supreme Court justices, two of the 15 members of the North Carolina Court of A ppeals, and numerous candidates for local elected office.

How many of the state's elected registered voters will actually take advantage of the privilege of voting is speculative.

For the first time in 12 years, this year's election will be what observers call a "blue moon" election - an election without any statewide races (e.g., governor, U .S. senator, Council of State, etc.). Not since 1994, when voter turnout was only 42 percent, has North Carolina had a "blue moon" election, and voter turnout is expected to be even worse this year.

Yet, policies, laws and decisions made by elected officials can and do materially affect almost every aspect of residential construction, including a business's bottom line. Decisions on taxes, insurance, liability, environment, worker safety, zoning and a host of other issues are made by elected officials at all levels of government.

Accordingly, it makes sense for those most affected by those decisions to participate in deciding who makes them and to ensure that policymakers understand and appreciate just how important the housing industry is to the economy and quality of life in our state. We need to elect and re-elect to office at the federal, state and local levels those officials who understand the importance of safeguarding the affordability of housing.

It is critical that home builders go to the polls Nov. 7, and that those who derive their income directly or indirectly from residential construction do the same. In today's political climate, home builders must serve as the new precinct captains to get their employees to the polls and to encourage their suppliers, subcontractors and associates to act accordingly.

In a year when voter turnout is expected to be low, every vote counts all the more, so it's in your best interest to go to the polls. Only in that way will you have a say in who makes policy affecting your business and your ability to stay in business. VOTE Nov 7th!