I attended a public candidate forum the other night, and it left me with so much to ponder. The first thing I noticed is that there were a lot of people there, which showed the importance of this particular local election.
I saw parents, grandparents, and professionals there. Ages varied. It was hard for me to keep my mouth shut sometimes because I wanted to have a discussion about things said in the answers. I know I wasn’t the only one who felt this way. The second thing I noticed was that no one was talking about the things that really mattered to me. I walked in wanting to learn about who shared my values and walked out feeling kind of let down.
Is this why we don’t engage in politics much? Is it because we feel as if what we value and are wanting to hear isn’t talked about? Do we not participate because it’s boring? Or, as I’ve been told time and time again, is it because what we say and do doesn’t really matter at all?
I’ve heard a few people who have run for a public office state that they did it because they didn’t feel represented, and I am beginning to understand that statement. But, aside from running for office, are there other ways for us to get the candidates we want? And what do you do when you want to vote but no one excites you?
Young Stayed Home
Articles have been shared after last week’s Super Tuesday results that the younger crowd stayed home, and yet we repeatedly hear that it’s the young voters who will determine elections. I read stories about people standing in line for five hours to vote and how that affects poor folks greatly because they usually don’t work jobs that will allow them to miss a shift or be late without facing repercussions.
Even here in my hometown, there’s a polling precinct in the city building. You have to walk through a metal detector to get through the front door. I’ve heard that the detectors are shut down on election days, but I don’t know if that’s true. What I do know is that no one, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, religion, or in any protected class, needs to walk through a metal detector to cast a vote. There’s no excuse for it, and it’s a blatant representation of voter suppression.
I know that some of you right now are rolling your eyes or disagreeing with me, but I won’t change my stance on this. Voter suppression is real and needs to be addressed.
It’s hard enough to get people to the polls, let alone getting them to the polls when the lines are ridiculously long and a metal detector stands between them and the voting booth. People don’t need more excuses to not vote, believe that, so what do we do? How do we make civic engagement a norm and not an event? How do we start shaping issues in a way that makes people want to have a voice? How do we pick candidates to go on the ballot who will entice folks to get to the polls?
This is a huge election year. We’ll soon have our mailboxes filled with cards and advertisements for candidates. We’ll be receiving calls and be flooded with campaign ads. Signs will start appearing along our sidewalks and roads. So how do we make the process one that is doable and exciting to people? Is it a matter of making the issues more important or the face on the ballot? It’s kind of like a chicken or the egg thing, eh?
The 2020 Election
I believe that we need to work on political education within our communities to make the process seem more commonplace and understandable. I do feel as if we could do a much better job at getting the process into the hands of the folks who don’t typically vote. I also believe that we need to start seeing more folks like us on the ballots. What would an election look like with less doctors and lawyers in it and more blue-collar workers?
How would that change the platform of issues?
Let’s start brainstorming what it would take to get more people to the polls and come up with a plan. I personally think the first step is getting people there and don’t even feel as if party is that important. I don’t care how you vote; I simply want you to do it. So, who can you get registered that isn’t already? Who can you get to the polls who typically doesn’t go?
Let’s begin to participate in the election process so we can feel included and seen. None of the country’s or neighborhood problems are going to be solved by us sitting at home complaining on social media. So how about it? Are you willing to get your family and friends registered? Are you willing to carpool to the polls?
Feel free to share ideas on how you think we can help the problem. And, in the meantime, educate yourself on which candidate most closely represents your values.
