The Black vote is magical, but how come it’s been 56 years since the Civil Rights Act, and we’re still having this conversation? For BlackHistoryMonth, kena1019 from ChicagoVotes writes why we all must fight
Every state has its own rules about voting and if you're not immersed in this stuff for fun — *raises hand* — it can be hard to keep track of all of the regulations in your own state. I often share a story about a Black man named Kevin whom I met while doing voter registration canvassing in Chicago. Kevin was told by his parole officer that he’s unable to vote due to a felony conviction. But here’s a fun fact: Illinois isthat allow individuals with felonies to vote upon release.
Now, onto voter apathy: It’s easy to tell people to vote, but the “how to” and “why” are the real challenges. No matter where I’ve lived — whether Chicago; Detroit, Michigan; or New London, Connecticut — I’ve met people who believe that voting doesn’t matter. I get it: It is hard to feel like your vote is heard in a system that has dismissed it for decades. And while I could respond by telling them, “Our ancestors died for the right to vote,” shaming isn’t a useful tactic to drive turnout.
Many of us are tackling personal issues that appear more immediate and urgent than voting, but plenty of those issues — from a right to housing to healthcare to zoning issues — are things that elected lawmakers have a say in, and even show up on ballots. Finding thetakes time. It takes patience and an empathic ear. Some conversations will require more effort and creativity, but the goals remain the same: normalizing civic engagement and getting us out to vote.
I learned the importance of voting from my grandma. Despite never learning to drive, she always finds a way to the polls. She informs me when her voter registration card arrives in the mail; sets a date of when she’s going to vote, whether it’s Early Voting or Election Day; and calls others to ensure they have a plan. My grandma is enthusiastic about voting — to this day, she, my mom, my uncle, and I travel to our neighborhood voting location every year to cast our ballots together.
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