As I’ve been in the middle of the craziest and most fulfilling work I’ve ever done, I find myself struggling to get others to see the urgency in participating in this year’s elections. I have found it challenging to get others motivated enough to hit the phones with me and knock on some doors to get their community members out to vote. Then again, I probably haven’t gotten to the more personal reasons why this election matters so much to me.
The first election that I voted in was the 2000 presidential elections–Bush vs. Gore. We all remember how that went down, right? Not very gracefully to say the least. Then I think I skipped out a few elections, after all, my excuse was that I was in college and pretty disconnected from politics. I voted again in 2004, 2006 and of course 2008. Back then it seemed like everyone was going out and voting because we wanted and believed in the possibility of changing the status quo and business as usual. That year I was doing nonpartisan voter registration and reminding people of the importance of voting.
Then 2009 happened. Local county school board elections happened. I thought about voting, cut out my cheat sheet and everything. But I procrastinated, I let other things take precedence and I sat that election out. A few months down the road I, alongside an entire community, saw how re-segregation efforts were underway in our county because people like me allowed that to happen by sitting out the elections a few months prior.
Today I was listening to the radio and callers were phoning in saying that they don’t understand why people are complaining about “neighborhood schools” (which would result in re-segregation of our county schools) since “the people showed up to vote and voted for this change to happen” in 2009. I remember that at the July school board meeting one of the women giving her public comment said “if you didn’t want this to happen you should have voted last year.” That stung and added insult to injury. But she was right about one thing. Those of us that have the privilege to vote, should have voted.
This year as my community is fighting against re-segregation efforts, and are being led in part by a student movement, I am forever reminded that I will not sit out another election. Yes, I royally messed up by not voting last year, but I can’t take it back. I have learned a very valuable lesson and it’s that I can either be part of the solution or part of the problem. I, along with every voter out there, have that choice. It has been a painful year seeing things go from bad to worse at times, but no movement has ever won a victory overnight. Certainly, no movement has ever been taken seriously until they’ve exercised their right to vote.
I’m reminded of all those who have come before me. I have seen countless photos and videos from the Civil Rights and Women’s Suffrage Movement, who not long ago, were dying for their right to vote. It took an incredible amount of time for someone like me to even have this privilege to vote as a person of color. Today we simply have to go down to a poll to vote. No need to risk death or violence in the process.
We are so fortunate that we live in a time when at our fingertips we can see a sample ballot, print it out and then research our favorite candidates. We can even take that sample ballot in to the booth with us. To make it even more convenient, North Carolina even has One Stop/Early voting where people who may have forgotten to vote before the voter registration deadline can go and register to vote AND vote all at once between October 14th and 30th. And for those of us that are busy or just want to get voting done with, we can simply go and vote early–including weekends!
With all the conveniences to vote we really have no excuse. Even those who aren’t yet eligible to vote can’t get off the hook easily because they can still motivate their friends and family to go out and vote. Everyone is encouraged to volunteer too, in fact getting volutneers is half the battle. Getting our community out to vote will only succeed if it is a community effort.
There is too much at stake this year and we can’t afford to sit out this election. We will feel the repercussions of this election for years to come. Sheriffs, State Senators, Federal Senators, Congressmen, Judges and others will all be up for election. Please don’t sit this one out and learn the hard way like I did, that local elections have the quickest, most impactful effect on our lives. We can’t afford to wait another 6 years or 4 or even 2 years to make our voices heard and make our vote count!
Want school re-segregation efforts to end? Tired of family separation as a result of 287g and unjust deportations? Want that pothole in your street fixed? Want to show politicians we’re serious when we demand the DREAM Act and education reform?
All of those things begin with YOU! What will YOU do to ensure we’re creating the kind of changes we want in our community? What are you willing to sacrifice to make sure we can get our community out to vote?
irene@irenegodinez.com
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