Vote Today: Cast Your Vote With Prudent Tenacity

By Juanita Bratcher

Publisher & CEO, CopyLine Magazine

During Chicago Mayor Harold Washington’s re-election campaign in 1987 at one of many get-out-the vote rallies, he stated that “Blacks are registered in more numbers than they say we are. We’re not apathetic, but systematically turned off.”

Today is Election Day. It is crucial that registered voters exercise their right to vote. There are many power brokers that don’t want that to happen…or to see you cast a ballot at anytime. There are legislative actions and efforts in state legislatures across the country to take that right through Voter ID laws…voting saboteurs.

It is absolutely absurd, insulting and mindboggling that there are some conservatives in this country who are trying to sabotage the right of Blacks and certain other people to vote in this country.

Conservative governors and Republican-controlled Legislatures across the country are trying to undercut and undermine the vote through Voter ID laws, purging of Voter Registration Rolls and shortening of voting hours, which obviously, has the possibility of disenfranchising millions of voters – specifically Blacks, other minorities, senior citizens young voters and handicapped. These Voter ID laws, purges and shorter voting hours in several states across the country stand to disenfranchise millions of voters.

When we vote we have a voice; a voice far from being silenced. And we must fight tooth and nail, every step of the way, to extinguish efforts by some who would try to disenfranchise voters’ constitutional right to the ballot box.

Most recently, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker directed the Wisconsin state legislature to revisit and modify a law he signed in May 2011 requiring voters to have state-issued IDs in order to vote. He wants this legislation to be in place before the next election. That’s when Walker will be up for re-election and faces a strong Democrat challenger, Mary Burke, a former state commerce secretary.

As a reminder, little more than a year after Walker won the Wisconsin governorship, he was subject to a recall, which he subsequently won and remained in office.

It is important that citizens exercise their right to vote, inasmuch as it not only gives them the opportunity to elect representatives that will work in their best interest, but ensure them a stake in the legislative process. The ballot is a powerful weapon to effect change and low voter turnout allows the minority to make decisions for the majority.

Reportedly, there are more than 34 states where legislation has passed or pending that would require a picture photo to vote (Voter ID). Other ways voters are being disenfranchised are through the abandonment of same-day voter registration, reduction of early voting periods (early voting prior to the official election day), and other voter suppression efforts.

You cannot be apathetic or systematically turned off from going to the poll and casting your ballot. Don’t abandon the ballot box; and cast your vote with prudent tenacity.

Voting gives power to the people who use it.

There’re some things you can never stop fighting for, and exercising your right to vote is one of them.

Take heed: Know those candidates’ backgrounds that are running for elective office and know them by their deeds. But most importantly, always be aware of the messenger and the message he/she brings.

Think about it! Your vote is vital to keeping the Democratic process intact.

Go out and Vote Today. And remember, voting is a privilege.

Juanita Bratcher is an Award-Winning Journalist, the Publisher of www.copylinemagazine.com and the author of several books, songwriter and poet. She has been a Journalist for more than 38 years covering politics, education and a wide-range of other topics.