You Voted; But You’re Not Done!

Why Voting isn’t Enough in the 2020 Presidential Election

By: Mildred Robertson

The final day of 2020 Presidential Election season is only days away. If you have already cast your vote, you are among 65.5 million Americans who have participated in early and mail-in voting. According to CNN, that’s almost half of all votes cast in the 2016 presidential election and more than the 58.3 million cast in pre-election voting that year.

If you lean democratic, you may be feeling pretty good right now. You’ve cast your vote, and it appears the polls are on your side. National polls as of October 27 show Vice President Joe Biden polling at 52.1 percent compared to Trump at 43 percent.  In comparison, the 2016 election showed Hillary Clinton with just a four-point lead in national polls, with neither candidate breaking the 50 percent mark. One week out Clinton was at 46 percent, while Trump polled at 42 percent. Though pundits and pollsters alike say that Biden is in a much better position than Clinton in 2016, the fact remains that she was leading…until she wasn’t.

There are numerous reasons why Clinton struggled to trounce Trump, and ultimately fell in the polls. Her precipitous fall has been rehashed more times than I care to recall. Suffice it to say, some things came up. While Biden’s campaign may not have to deal with the same challenges as Clinton’s; challenges do exist. That’s why Democrats must leave no room for error.

Among those issues facing Democrats is a concerted effort on the part of the Republican Party to suppress the vote. Tactics range from slowing down mail service, to eliminating voting locations, voter intimidation using armed vigilantes at the polls and rejecting ballots dated prior to Election Day, but not received by November 3^rd. Among the most egregious challenges Americans may face if Biden is elected, is that the sitting president has threatened to refuse the peaceful transfer of power if he fails to win the election.

These challenges and others aimed at disenfranchising voters across the nation threaten our ability to self-govern and may lead to the dismantling of our democracy as we know it. You might be asking what more you can do if you have already cast your vote. Well there is plenty.

Americans must articulate a clear choice in this election. That can only be accomplished by robust voter participation across the country, with particular emphasis on swing states. North Carolina is one of the coveted swing states that may determine who assumes the presidency. Other prized swing states include Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

For those of us living in swing states it is imperative, if we wish our political philosophy to prevail, that we don’t just vote, but also work to get out the vote. There are numerous groups and organizations participating in voter turnout (GOTV) across the country. If you are not connected with any such group, they are easily identifiable on the web, and would be happy for you to volunteer. Among the activities in which you can engage to help guarantee a free and fair election are:

·         Identifying personal volunteer opportunities

o   Poll Watcher
o   Phone Banking
o   Door Knocking
o   Distributing/Displaying Campaign Signage

·         Contacting members of your family/social network and encouraging them to vote.

·         Donating to a campaign that supports your political philosophy and beliefs

·         Working the polls

·         Posting pro-campaign messages on your social network

These are only a few examples of the steps you can take to ensure that sufficient numbers of votes are cast to leave no doubt as to the intended choice of the majority of Americans. In this year, like no other before it, it is imperative that citizens take their civic responsibility seriously.

You took the first step and voted; but this year that may not be enough. Choose your task, and take the next step to help ensure that the 2020 election results in an outcome that reflects the will of the people.

Voting is not enough. You must WORK THE VOTE!

Voting: the Most Important Thing You Will Do in 2020

By Mildred Robertson

It appears that Americans have gotten the message. The best way to change our nation’s direction is for its citizens to let their voices be heard through the ballot box. An unprecedented number of citizens have cast their ballots across America, even in the face of long wait times, fears about tampering with mail-in ballots and threats of intimidation at polling places.

North Carolinians were among the first Americans to cast a ballot during the 2020 General Election as they flocked to the polls on October15, 2020. By the end of business yesterday, Nearly 1.9 million North Carolinians had exercised their right to vote. That compares to only 657,203 votes cast during the same time period in 2016.

It is heartening to know that U.S. citizens will not be intimidated by forces that appear intent upon ending our experiment in liberty. It is clear Americans will face all obstacles placed before them to participate in the one enterprise that makes us unique among our peers; governance for the people, by the people.

Ours is a freedom not easily gained, and not effortlessly maintained. Sacrifice has been the bedrock of our nation’s journey to be the nation we profess to be in our constitution. The obstacles to maintaining our freedom in 2020 are daunting; but they are by no means the most formidable obstacles we have encountered in our relatively young republic.

As our ancestors faced down dogs, clubs, and water hoses to exercise their right to vote, so we must face our own obstacles. We cannot be intimidated or complacent.  We must embrace our legacy and challenge those who would deny us our birthright.

We must vote!

 

Your Country - Your Choice: Vote November 3rd

By Mildred Robertson

 Black Americans have a choice to make in 2020. Will we allow the sacrifices of our ancestors be for nothing, or will we make sacrifices to ensure that Black voices are raised in the 2020 presidential election?

 All kinds of obstacles have been erected in 2020 to discourage Blacks and other minorities from participating in the November 3rd election. Our young people are being bombarded with disinformation about the records of Democratic nominees. Republican legislators and Secretaries of State are instituting rules and regulations that will limit access to the ballot box. The Post Master General has actively worked to slow mail services in order to negatively impact vote-in mailing. 

While some of these tactics are new, this push to deny minorities access to the ballot box is an age-old battle between racist conservatives and Black people seeking the promise of America.  Black people were ushered into that promise when granted the right to citizenship in 1868. But having the right to vote did not translate into the ability to exercise it.

A systematic effort to turn Blacks and minorities away from polling places has prevailed from 1877 until the present, resulting in the exclusion and suppression of communities of color in the political power structure. Southern and conservative legislators across the country have doubled their efforts to block minorities from the ballot box since the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act In 2013. Many jurisdictions currently labor to institute draconian rules and regulations meant to make it difficult for minorities and Progressives to access the ballot box. Those seeking to depress minority voting hope to negatively impact turnout this year by providing fewer polling places, limiting hours and making mail-in voting unreliable. Further, armed militia have been encouraged to poll watch to intimidate minority voters.

None of these tactics are new. Civil Rights activist down through the years have fought valiantly to overcome these and sometimes more violent obstacles. Throughout the years, we have gained some ground and then lost some as we struggle to reach victory.  But the struggle must go on.

If you cannot stand in line for an indeterminate amount of time to cast your vote; then request a mail-in ballot. If you are not sure your mail-in ballot has time to reach the Board of Elections by or before November 3rd, early vote.  If you cannot get to an early vote location, then be prepared to stand in line on November 3^rd for however long it takes. But whatever method you choose…Vote.

No matter how difficult it is to cast your vote, you must make it a priority in 2020. It is you who will decide the kind of country in which we live. Whether you vote or stay home, you are making a choice. Choose to be part of the solution. Vote in the 2020 Election.