{"id":6536,"date":"2026-08-25T09:16:54","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T17:16:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.threadalaska.org\/learn-and-grow\/blog\/why-your-voice-matters-child-care-and-alaskas-2026-election"},"modified":"2026-08-25T09:16:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T17:16:54","slug":"why-your-voice-matters-child-care-and-alaskas-2026-election","status":"publish","type":"learn-and-grow-blog","link":"https:\/\/www.threadalaska.org\/learn-and-grow\/blog\/why-your-voice-matters-child-care-and-alaskas-2026-election","title":{"rendered":"Why Your Voice Matters: Child Care and Alaska\u2019s 2026 Election"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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2026 Election Resources<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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NOTE:\u00a0<\/em>thread\u2019s\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>election activities are strictly nonpartisan.\u00a0<\/em>thread\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>does not support or oppose candidates, political parties, or ballot measures. Instead,\u00a0<\/em>thread\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>wants Alaskans to have the information they need to\u00a0participate\u00a0in elections, and wants candidates seeking public office to understand the\u00a0child care\u00a0challenges facing families, communities, and Alaska\u2019s workforce.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaska\u2019s Primary Election is behind us, and now attention turns to the November 3 General Election. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the coming months, candidates across Alaska will be talking with voters about the challenges facing their communities and what they hope to accomplish if elected. This is an important opportunity for families, child care professionals, employers, and advocates to make sure child care is part of those conversations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also why thread <\/strong>is engaged in the 2026 election and committed to elevating the importance of child care as an issue that affects families, communities, and businesses.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

thread’s <\/strong>role is to help ensure voters have access to information; Alaskans have the opportunity to participate, and candidates understand the child care issues affecting communities across the state. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Child care\u00a0decisions are made by the people we\u00a0elect<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

State and federal policymakers make decisions about child care funding, assistance for families, early educator support, workforce development, business incentives, regulations, and other policies that affect whether families can find and afford care and whether child care programs can remain open. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When parents cannot find reliable child care, they may have to miss work, reduce their hours, turn down a promotion, or leave the workforce entirely. Employers feel those impacts through recruitment challenges, absenteeism, and employee turnover. Communities rely on child care to support health care workers, teachers, military families, public safety employees, small businesses, and many other parts of Alaska\u2019s workforce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Child care is part of the basic infrastructure Alaska needs to work, grow, and compete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connect with the candidates running to\u00a0represent\u00a0you<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If a candidate knocks on your door, attends a community event, participates in a forum, or speaks at a local meeting, ask them about child care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Questions to consider asking: <\/p>\n\n\n\n