Our Vote Means Everything

It's not just an election; it's a fight for the future of our country. How this country turns is sure that our democracy will fall or be repaired; People of color will be broken, helpless, and full of debt. It sounds like we will go back to the early 80s, and if anyone my age remembers and studied that time, it was not great for people of color.

• Four hundred anti-voter bills have been introduced in 48 states.

• Partisan poll watchers in Texas are seen as voter intimidation.

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Power in Our Votes

The right to vote is one of the most important rights Americans have. It makes us citizens and allows us to choose who represents us in government. Without it, we're just subjects at the mercy of whoever holds power over us.

And right now, some people are trying very hard to take that power away from us. They want to make it harder for people like you and me—people who are black or brown—to vote by restricting polling places or requiring IDs that many of us don't have. These politicians want fewer people voting because it will give them more power over those who do vote, which means more money for their campaigns.

I know this is scary stuff, but I promise you: we can fight against these efforts to keep us from our rightful place as total participants in American democracy. Over the last several years, 400 anti-voter bills have been introduced in 48 states.

We can show up at the polls and make sure our voices are heard loud and clear—and no amount of intimidation will stop us from doing so.

The right to vote is a cornerstone of our democracy. Black voters, who racist laws and practices have historically disenfranchised, have fought for the right to vote their entire lives.

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Suppressions Efforts

In 2018, we saw increased government voter suppression efforts—actions often aimed at black communities. These efforts include purging voter rolls and closing polling places.

Voter suppression harms democracy because it prevents people from accessing the political process, which affects every other area of their lives. When black Americans can't participate in voting, we don't get a say in how our country is run. This means that policy decisions will be made without our input and oversight, which may not benefit our communities or us.

The 2020 elections showed how resilient we are in America, even during a pandemic. The opponents suggest that the voting rights had been rigged. Still, with no evidence of that ever happening, they found other ways to put barriers in voting to keep people from voting and making the difference needed in our society. 70.9 % of white voters cast their ballots in 2020, and 58.4 % were from people of color.

This year people are coming out in record numbers to cast their vote early. Some states have closed polling stations, making it more difficult for people to vote, and now rogue citizens are sitting at bullet drop-off armored to intimidate voters into casting their vote.

Texas lawmakers in 2021 passed bills limiting citizens to vote and allowing poll watchers to observe voters armored with guns.

Photo by Edmond Dantès: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-inside-a-voting-center-7103110/

Blast from the Past

Voter suppression is giving Jim Crow in some states. Why? Think about what would change if these angry blatant racist government officials were ripped from their seats. They go against women's rights, Blacks, and POCs. Because they know we have the power to stop the rhetoric they are pushing for our country.

We need to talk to our kids and get them signed up to vote at an early age, talk to them about the current climate in the US and work with them to push to make things better. As a high school student graduating in 1999. I understand the importance of casting my vote. Not just for my future but for all my ancestors in the past.

We need your help! Let's fight against voter suppression by encouraging others to vote this election season—and share this article with them so they know why it matters.