As the historic 2024 presidential election nears, I’m filled with so many emotions: excitement, gratitude, pride and anger, at times. The sheer responsibility of voting in a democracy makes me feel empowered by the difference my one vote can make, not only for the next four years, but for generations to come.
As American citizens, we have the inalienable and enviable right to cast our votes to have a voice in who leads our nation, our districts, our states, and our cities. We are so fortunate to live in a country where we have such power. But with great power comes great responsibility, and far too many of us take that power for granted when the votes we cast affect every aspect of our lives.
Our health-care options, funding for our children’s schools, diversity initiatives both in higher education and in the workplace, criminal laws that unfairly penalize people of color, even the maintenance of roads and potholes in our communities—they are all determined by the leaders we vote into office.
That’s more than reason enough to stand in line for hours, if necessary, and to take the responsibility seriously. If you choose not to vote, for whatever reason, you really have no right to complain about anything, in my opinion, because everything that’s important to you, and I mean everything, correlates back to that ballot box, whether you realize it or not.
So many of our ancestors fought and died for this right. We literally are our ancestors’ wildest dreams. They shed blood and tears, marched and rallied, and risked their lives and livelihoods in pursuit of what they knew was owed to them as full and equal citizens. They demanded the right to vote, and though it was an arduous fight, they were ultimately victorious. And we get to reap the rewards. For those reasons, I am excited about the possibilities, grateful for the opportunity and proud of the privilege to vote.
Let me explain my anger. I recently learned that one of the Supreme Court candidates had familial connections to a man who was acquitted in the murders of Andrew Goodman, Michael Swerner and James Chaney. This discovery left me outraged because only one man, Edgar Ray Killen, was convicted for those murders. Our communities are still suffering because these families were not held accountable, and while they may not be responsible for the deaths of those three civil-rights workers, they certainly shouldn’t represent a community in a governing body, I believe.
At One Voice, our core mission is simple: to ensure an equal voice for traditionally silenced communities. Our team does that through boots-on-the-ground advocacy, research and outreach focused on five programs: leadership, voting, criminal justice, education and economic justice.
We envision a Mississippi where everyone can vote regardless of a criminal conviction; where police work with communities as an ally, not as an enemy; where streets don’t flood every time it rains; where we don’t have to dodge potholes daily; where children feel safe at school while being prepared for college and their life goals; and where we are paid fair wages and don’t have to work multiple jobs to pay our bills.
Despite our best efforts, we cannot do the one thing that matters most: We can’t vote for you. Only you can do that. And to do so, you must be registered.
Registration for this year’s general election may be over in most states, but if you are already registered, please check your voting status with your local circuit clerk’s office before election day to make sure your name hasn’t been purged from the system. And while you’re at it, ensure your precinct hasn’t changed since you last voted. It is your responsibility—and yours alone—to ensure you show up at the right precinct and your name is on the voting rolls on Election Day.
It’s also important that you get to know the candidates. Sure, the presidential election is important, but that’s not the only race on the ballot. In this election, we’re also voting in the U.S. Senate race and, depending on your district, the U.S. House of Representatives. Don’t vote blindly. Remember, we have an enormous responsibility, so make sure you know what the candidates stand for and how their views align with your values and the things that matter in your everyday life.
Mississippi has some of the most restrictive voting laws in the nation, so we must remain vigilant. Don’t just show up on Election Day. You must have an appropriate Photo ID that is no more than 10 years old. Those may include the following:
- A driver’s license
- Photo ID card issued by a branch, department or entity of the State of Mississippi
- U.S. passport
- Government employee ID card
- Firearms license
- Student photo ID issued by an accredited Mississippi university or college
- U.S. military ID
- Tribal photo ID
- Photo ID issued by an entity of the U.S. or state government
- A free Mississippi Voter ID Card can be obtained from your circuit clerk’s office.
Our theme at One Voice this year is “My Life, My Vote.” Here’s what that means to me: We should all vote on Nov. 5 like our lives and livelihood depend on it. Because they do.
This MFP Voices essay does not necessarily represent the views of the Mississippi Free Press, its staff or board members. To submit an opinion for the MFP Voices section, send up to 1,200 words and sources fact-checking the included information to voices@mississippifreepress.org. We welcome a wide variety of viewpoints.
