Once again, I’d like to speak on the upcoming election, specifically Maryland’s gubernatorial election on Nov. 4. And again, in the interest of full disclosure, let me say that I am the campaign manager for two candidates who won their Democratic primary elections—Del. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, who is running for Senate in District 44, and Ben Brooks, who hopes to win a seat in the House of Delegates’ District 10.
With so many important issues affecting us, can someone explain to me why roughly 8 out of 10 people choose to stay away from the polls? To say ‘my vote doesn’t count’ or ‘I don’t have time’ or ‘none of the candidates are worth my vote’ is an insult to the election process. I believe that a higher percentage of people vote for their favorite couple on Dancing With the Stars than go to the polls to elect the leaders who make decisions that affect how much money comes back to our communities, the safety nets for those in need, education, small business, taxes and more.
It may sound like a cliché to remind folks that our forefathers fought to gain the voting rights for women and for African Americans. You owe it to yourself and their legacy to exercise that right in each and every election.
The millions of people around the world who don’t have the freedom to choose their leaders and who can’t challenge questionable, fraudulent elections would love to change places with us in the U.S. Again, I ask, ‘How can you choose not to invest a mere 15 minutes, half hour, or hour to go to the polls?’
People of power, money and influence control a lot of what goes on in our nation. But when it comes to voting, everyone is equal. Everyone gets just one vote—one man one vote.
A lot of wealthy people and other people in high places understand the value of the vote. If your vote had no value, people wouldn’t spend the time and millions chasing it. They know that you’re not going to vote in their interest but in your own interest. By your coming up with excuses not to vote and others keeping you away from the polls with voter suppression efforts keeps them in power.
Wouldn’t you feel better pulling the lever for the person who you believe will be best for the direction of the state, county or district instead of having others make that decision for you? It’s almost like supporting an arranged marriage where a parent or relative selects the person you’ll marry without you having a say.
I attended a fundraiser in Potomac that was headlined by former President Bill Clinton. As expected, he was deliberate and thoughtful. One comment in particular resonated with me. He said that, Everybody loves the Republicans when they talk about reducing taxes, but in doing that, it almost always means they have to cut somewhere and they never tell you where. And if you ask who is most likely to feel those cuts, will it be those who can most afford to feel them or those who would least afford to?
If you feel you made the wrong selection for your elected official, hold them accountable by mobilizing others who feel the same way and speaking out in numbers at community forums or contacting the elected official directly. And if you still aren’t pleased with their actions or lack of actions, then remember, there’s another election in four years. And don’t let their incumbency cloud your vision.
To those who say, ‘my vote doesn’t count,’ let remind you of how close a few races in the primary election were:
- In District 44B, Pat Young beat Aaron Barnett for House of Delegates by 34 votes after all provisional and absentee ballots were counted.
- In District 44A, the city subdistrict, Del. Keith Haynes won the sole seat over fellow incumbent Del. Keiffer Mitchell by 50 votes.
- In the Republican primary for governor, just 20 votes separated the winner and loser after a recount.
You can’t afford to sit this election out. So, please, go to the early voting centers to vote today. Go with conviction, go with pride. It’s the only way we’ll build some political influence for our community and our county.
Learn more:
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Find out which Democrats and Republicans are on the election ballot.