Your Vote, Your Future: Shaping Change in 2024 – ep.146

In this episode, Melyssa dives into the importance of the upcoming election and why every vote counts. More than just a presidential race, this election shapes our communities, schools, courts, and environment. Melyssa highlights the historical struggles for voting rights, the ongoing challenges, and why voting locally is critical. From checking your registration to holding elected officials accountable, she provides a roadmap for making your vote matter. Tune in to learn how you can make a difference and build a better future through collective  action.

Melyssa Barrett:  Welcome to the Jali Podcast. I’m your host, Melyssa Barrett. This podcast is for those who are interested in the conversation around equity, diversity, and inclusion. Each week I’ll be interviewing a guest who has something special to share or is actively part of building solutions in the space. Let’s get started. Welcome to another episode of the Jolly Podcast, where we explore the power of voice, community, and action. Today we’re diving deep into a critical conversation about the upcoming election. An election that make no mistake is about more than just choosing the next President of the United States. It’s about shaping the future of our communities, our schools, our courts, our environment, and the very foundations of justice and equality in this country. So let’s start with the basics. Why vote? It might seem like the answer is obvious, but it’s worth repeating, especially when we think about the struggles that came before us.

African-Americans didn’t always have the right to vote. Women either our ancestors fought, marched, and bled for the chance to be counted. The 15th Amendment passed in 1870, was supposed to grant African-Americans the right to vote. But Jim Crow laws intimidation and systemic disenfranchisement kept that promise out of reach for decades. It wasn’t until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. John Lewis and Fannie Lou Hamer, that Black Americans truly began to see our voices reflected in the political process. Their sacrifices and the sacrifices of so many others paved the way. But the fight isn’t over. Today we’re seeing new challenges to voting rights from gerrymandering to voter ID laws, and the reduction of polling places, particularly in black and brown communities. Voting is a way to resist. So why is it important to vote up and down the ballot?

The President of the United States is certainly important, but change often starts locally. That’s where the power of your vote is magnified. Local officials like mayors, city council members, judges, district attorneys, and school board representatives have an immediate impact on our daily lives. They determine how our communities are policed, how our schools are funded, and how the courts treat our brothers and sisters. In short, these officials make decisions that affect everything from the justice system to housing policies and even our access to clean water. Take a moment and just think about that. Your vote could decide who oversees the criminal justice system in your town. Your vote could shape education for the next generation of children. Your vote could lead to policies that address climate change, affordable housing, and economic development. The 2024 election isn’t just about national politics. It’s about making sure that every level of government reflects our needs, our struggles, and our aspirations.

And here’s another point that doesn’t get talked about enough. Judicial elections matter. There are judges on the ballot who will determine how laws are interpreted and applied in your state or county. There are judges on the ballot who will determine how laws are interpreted and applied in your state or county. In some states, they decide everything from family court cases to issues involving mass incarceration. Do we want these decisions to be made by judges who don’t share our values or understand our lived experiences? Don’t let someone else decide your future. But I say all that to say this. It’s easy to get discouraged. There’s a lot of noise out there. There’s a lot of division out there. It can feel like the system is stacked against you, and in many ways, maybe it is. But one of the most powerful tools we have is our vote.

Don’t give up that power. Don’t sit on the sidelines. So let’s talk strategy. What can you do today to make your vote counts and that others around you are ready to vote too? Number one, check your voter registration. Make sure you’re registered to vote well before the deadline. It only takes a few minutes and you can usually do it online. Number two, know your ballot. Don’t just show up and check a box. On election day unprepared. Take time to research who’s running for office. Top to bottom, understand what’s at stake at the local, state, and federal level. There are voter guides, candidate forums, so many different ways to receive information about the candidates that are running for office. Number three, bring others with you. Voting can be a communal act. Encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to make a voting plan. They don’t have to vote like you vote, but let’s get everyone out to vote.

Even offer to carpool to the polls. Remind folks about the mail-in voting or early voting, we have those options. Number four, stay engaged even after election day. Hold your elected officials accountable. Attend city council meetings, join community organizations and stay informed on the issues that matter most to you. We have to keep the momentum going. We’ve showed the world that our votes matter, but it’s not enough to vote in presidential elections. We have to show up every time. We have to let our elected leaders know that we’re paying attention and that we demand action on the issues that affect our communities to those who think that their vote doesn’t matter. I say this, look at history. Look at the countless moments that were driven by collective action, often sparked by a single vote or a small group of committed individuals to the young people that are listening, especially, you are the future.

You are the present. Your generation has the power to reshape this nation. Don’t let apathy or disenfranchisement take that away from you. Your voice matters. Use it as we close out today’s episode. Remember this, voting is not just a right, it’s a responsibility. It’s how we honor those who came before us and how we protect future generations. So in the upcoming election, don’t just vote for the next president. Vote for your future. Vote for your community. Vote for the changes you want to see. And when election day is over, keep pushing. Our work doesn’t stop at the ballot box. It’s just the beginning. Thanks for tuning in to the Jolly Podcast. I hope I have inspired you to get involved, stay informed, and most importantly, vote. Until next time, keep raising your voice and making your mark on the world. Together we can build a better, more just future. 

Thanks for joining me on the Jali Podcast. Please subscribe so you won’t miss an episode. See you next week.

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