Most American citizens who are 18 years and older can vote in federal and state elections. Exercising your right to vote is something that many Americans may take for granted. However, this right should be taken seriously as there are millions of people in other countries that do not have a say in who their leaders are and continue to struggle to make themselves heard. Historically, our ancestors fought and some even died to preserve our right to vote. Voting is an opportunity provide an opportunity to speak with a collective voice, on behalf of our ancestors and others who are voiceless.
The upcoming 2022 midterm elections are important. Important rights and issues are on the line, which can impact the quality of life of everyone in our community. Voting gives you the opportunity to take a position on important issues such as housing, poverty, criminal justice, the natural environment, health and/or healthcare, and education, among others.
Usually, Presidential elections are given more attention than midterm and local elections. In fact, midterm and local elections tend to have lower voter turnout. According to a study conducted by Portland State University, less than 15% of eligible voters were coming to vote for Mayors, Council Members, and other various local officials. When there is a low voter turnout, this often means that issues that affect many are being determined by a small group of voters, which makes each vote more important. Each vote can make a difference.
In past elections, Philadelphians have proven to be outspoken, motivated, resilient and have shown electoral officials that we can and will show-up to vote. For example, Philadelphia’s voter turnout count helped decide the 2020 election in favor of President Biden. We still have a lot of work that needs to be done to address on-going challenges in our city, such as the increase in gun violence, crime, and the devastating effects of opioid use in our communities. Homicides and violent crimes have increased in Philadelphia. The 2022 homicide rate in Philadelphia is higher than last year. Additionally, in 2020, 1,214 Philadelphians died from drug overdoses. When you vote, you are taking a stand about these issues because each candidate running for election has their own plan for how they will or will not address the problem. By voting, you are helping to decide who will have the power to take action.
In order to vote, the first and most important step is to register. For the November 8th elections, if you do not register properly by the October 24th deadline, you cannot vote. You can register electronically or on paper, using an official voter registration form. At Esperanza, we are doing paper registrations for any eligible person who walks through our doors, attends our community events or interacts with our team in the streets, in our schools, and so on. It takes five minutes or less to ensure you can exercise your right to cast your vote on Election Day. Every vote matters. Join Esperanza in our push to register as many eligible community members to vote as we can. Together, we vote to honor our past and change our future.
