Voter Supression is alive today

Claire Renwick

This piece is written to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage and the women’s achievement to pass the 19th Amendment essentially giving white woman the right to vote. There were many racist laws and practices at the time that prevented others from voting. Activism for voting rights continued and in 1965 the Voting Rights Act was passed and is said to be the biggest voting rights victory of all, Think about it-1965- not all that long ago.

Now I am not a historian but I write today as a member of a group, The Huddle, formed after the Women’s March in March, 2017. These writings are intended to recognize, celebrate and give personal reasons for the importance of this date. Writing does not come easy to me, but when asked to contribute, I felt perhaps a similar feeling as many suffragettes had all those years ago, bonded with a group of upstanding, ethical women caring and fighting for the future.

So, celebrate the historical moment, yes, but all the while keeping our eyes on the startling events happening today, Does voter suppression exist today?

Let us count the ways, In 2013, the Supreme Court decision, 5-4, struck down the heart of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, allowing 9 states, mostly in the south, to change their election laws without federal approval, In 2014 in Texas and many other states, stricter voter ID laws were implemented, previously blocked by the federal government. In June of 2018 the Supreme Court upheld controversial the Ohio Voter-Purge law.

Now we come to August, 2020, President Trump said about mail-in voting,“they need that money in order for the post office to work, to take these millions and millions of ballots....If we don’t make a deal..they don’t get the money....they can’t have universal mail-in voting.” Representative Gerry Connolly of Virginia said that, “this is a different form of massive voter suppression occurring in front of our eyes.” The Washington Post said that “Trump’s suggestion of deploying law enforcement officials to monitor polls raises the specter of voting intimidation”.

In spite of many states having years of experience with mail-in voting there continues to be unfounded unproven assertions that mail-in voting increases voter fraud, And the suppression continues, in ways big and small....no early voting, stricter voter ID, hours at polls, reduced or changing polling places, hours to register, deceptive robo phone calls, and undermining the voting process by calling it into question.

Please do not be fooled or swayed. Choose to vote in person (mask and social distance) or by mail. For the current requirements in Michigan go to www.mi.gov/vote, where you can also track your mail-in or dropped off ballot.

I leave with some powerfully encouraging quotes:

Thomas Jefferson: “We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” Alexander Hamilton: “every election is determined by the people who show up.” Harry Fosdick:

“Democracy is based upon the conviction there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people.” Susan B. Anthony: “Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it.” And my own...voting is kind of like how we learned to cross the street..

Look right, look left, right again..

Move forward in the safest way possible.

VOTE NO MATTER WHAT!