Welcome to FranchisingVotes.com, our new legislative and political advocacy action center. Here you'll find all the tools you'll need to contact your members of Congress and cast an informed vote. On this site you'll find tools you need to register to vote; learn about the officials who represent you and the candidates seeking office in your state; and how you can simplify the voting process to ensure your vote is heard in this major 2008 election year.

Your elected officials exist to represent your views and interests, but they need to hear from you to know how to do so. You are in the best position to engage and educate them about how laws and regulations impact our community. If you don't do it, who will? As key issues are debated in Congress, IFA will post 'Action Alerts' on this site to keep you informed. Click on the "Take Action" button to the right and let your elected officials know how you feel about these key issues.

In 2006, only about half of America's registered voters actually voted... and about one out of five of those who didn't said they were simply too busy to get to their polling place. Yet as we have seen in the past few election cycles, many elections are determined by just a few votes. So it's crucial that you, your co-workers and your family members register to vote in your community, learn about the candidates, and cast your ballot this year for the candidates of your choice.

As candidates tour the country spreading their messages, the IFA will be there as a resource to help politically-active members make sense of it all. FranchisingVotes is your one-stop-shopping location for all the information you need throughout the election season.

Please participate in this year's elections. At stake is the White House, the make-up of Congress, leadership of many states, and representation in state legislatures around the country. While many citizens around the world do not have access to a meaningful ballot, we do - and it's crucial our votes are heard.

Thanks for taking the time to get involved.

Sincerely,
Matt Shay
President
International Franchise Association, Inc