William Shakespeare, once
eloquently wrote, “There is a tide in the affairs of men.
When taken at the flood, leads to fortune; Omitted, all the
voyage of their life, is bound in shallows and in
miseries.” However, the short, sententious mother wit of
Big Mama or Grandmama ‘nem articulated this pearl of wisdom
no less masterly when they forewarned, “Don’t miss an
opportunity. It may only come once!”
Whether expressed by the
grandiloquence of the storied poet-playwright or the pithy
innate common-sense intellect of seasoned African American
women, the truth is the same. There are some things before
us that the urgency of the hour requires that we act on or
the opportunity to do so will vanish, never to return. The
implication is that we risk the consequences of not taking
immediate action.
American voters are facing our most consequential election
since perhaps the vote which preceded the
blood-soaked
Civil
War.
Voting is a fundamental right, and all citizens should have
voter access that is easy and convenient. Yet, the 2020
election occurs when a myriad of political tactics and
outside attempts to interfere with our elections, are being
employed to suppress voter turnout in urban centers and
areas with large minority populations.
In Ohio’s major urban areas, voters have had to wait for
hours in lines up to a quarter of a mile or longer, on
average. Low income and African American voters find that
they have to wait in line twice as long as white voters as
Ohio voters “must overcome a series of barriers put into
place by the state’s Republican-controlled legislature and
secretary of state,” says the Center for Public Integrity.
Specifically, the impediments, which disproportionately
burden people of color. include “strict ID laws and purging
voter rolls that target those who do not vote frequently
enough, limiting the number of drop boxes and rejecting
signatures on absentee ballots and applications.”
What’s at Stake:
The implicit narrative painted is that certain groups do not
deserve access to the voting booth nor other rights, such as
access to affordable health care. And, as has been stated
before, this momentous election also comes at a period that
Miguel De La Torre describes as where “white nationalism has
been brought back into the mainstream of American public
life; racial tensions are running high fueled by explicit
bigotry such as slurs against Hispanic immigrants; excessive
force is perpetrated against citizens of color by law
enforcement; and the rhetoric of identity politics pervades
the media rather than racial justice and reconciliation.”
Protecting Your Vote:
Undoubtably, these biases and aggressive voter suppression
strategies played a role in our community’s low turnout in
2016. While life presents us with opportunities, it is time
to seize the moment and bring about change. In the 2020
election, it is time to go on the offensive rather than the
prevent defense we played four years ago. We don’t have
much time, but we can counter the suppression. Here’s what
we can do.
8 Ways to Fight Back:
1.
Check and Re-Check your Registration:
In September 2019, 182,000 Ohioans were purged from the
voter rolls. Ensure that you are properly registered, your
name is on the rolls, and that your address is up to date.
Registration information available at OHVOTES.ORG
2.
Vote now and Know your local election
dates and deadlines:
Election Day, Nov.3, 6:30am -7:30pm. Early in-person voting
starts October 6, M-F 8am – 5pm; The last two weekends and
Monday before election (Nov.2) also have Early Voting; Take
absentee ballots in signed envelope to Drop Box at One
Government Sq. (Jackson St.) from October 6 to November 3,
7:30pm. Only immediate family members may return absentee
ballots, but anyone can provide a ride to vote or drop off
the absentee ballot.
3.
Find your polling place, what’s on your
ballot, ID requirements and other information at ohvotes.org.
4.
Be Informed: The League of Women
Voters’ website generates voter-specific voter guides. Reach
out to your local league or visit VOTE411.ORG to research
candidates and ballot measures.
5.
Complete Absentee Ballots Accurately:
Follow instructions to a tee and fill in information
PROPERLY. Include email and phone numbers where asked in
case information needs to be corrected. Double-check the
return envelope and track your ballot like a package at
https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/toolkit/ballot-tracking/.
6.
Election Protection: Flag and report
any misinformation on social media immediately. Report voter
suppression/intimidation. The Nonpartisan Voter Hotline
provides registration status, polling location, and voter
rights. They also provide an intake process for voter rights
violations. 1-866-OURVOTE (English) or 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA
(Spanish). Attorneys interested in making sure that every
vote is counted should contact wetheaction.org to help out.
7.
Have a Plan: Ensure everyone in your
household has a ride and a plan to get to the polling place;
ensure you have weather-appropriate gear, folding chair,
water, and snacks.
8.
Stay in line! If you are in line to
vote before the polls close, you have the right to vote, no
matter how long it takes. If asked to leave or experiencing
other problems at your polling place, call the ACLU’s
Election Protection Hotline 1-866-OUR-VOTE or visit their
anti-suppression website at 866ourvote.org.
The determination to
suppress certain communities’ votes is fierce and millions
of Ohio voters neglected – or were prevented - from casting
ballots in 2016. The voting public must be equally intense
in fighting back in 2020. If we do not defend our rights
now, there might not be another opportunity.
Contact Rev. Donald Perryman, D.Min, at
drdlperryman@centerofhopebaptist.org |