Every election season, I hear the same excuses. I’ll get to it. I’ve got time. I’ll just go on Election Day.
And every election season, somebody wakes up on Election Day with every intention of voting, only to discover that life has other plans. The babysitter cancels. The boss schedules an unexpected meeting. The car won’t start. The line at the polling place stretches around the building. Or worse, you show up at the location where you’ve always voted, only to discover the polling place has changed.
That’s why I’m encouraging everyone to take advantage of early voting. We have too much at stake in this election to gamble on everything going according to plan on Nov. 3.
Apparently, plenty of Harris County residents agree. On October 19, the first day of early voting, more than 104,000 people cast their ballots by 6 p.m., setting a new first-day record for midterm early voting in the county. That’s an impressive turnout, and I hope the enthusiasm continues. The real test will be whether we can sustain that momentum through Oct. 30.
For Black Americans, the right to vote has never been something we could take for granted. Our ancestors marched, organized, endured intimidation, lost jobs, and in some cases, lost their lives fighting for a seat at the political table. They faced literacy tests, poll taxes, and laws designed to keep them away from the ballot box. Generations later, we have opportunities to vote on multiple days, including weekends, and I believe we owe it to those who came before us to take full advantage.
I know some people are frustrated with politics. I get it. They’re tired of campaign promises that never materialize. Tired of politicians showing up in Black churches during election season, clapping offbeat to the choir, shaking hands, and promising to remember our communities once they’re elected. Then, somehow, they develop a remarkable case of amnesia.
But sitting out an election does absolutely nothing to improve our circumstances. Whether we participate or not, someone will make decisions about our lives, including how our schools are funded, what happens to neighborhood hospitals, how much we pay in property taxes, and whether our communities receive the investments they need. When we don’t participate, we leave those decisions to people with very different priorities.
Here in Houston, families are struggling with rising housing costs. Parents are concerned about education. Seniors worry about property taxes and whether they’ll be able to remain in neighborhoods they’ve called home for decades. We’re having conversations about crime, economic development, and health care access. These are the issues discussed at Sunday dinner, in barbershops, beauty salons, and church parking lots. Yet too often, the people with the most to say about what’s wrong in our communities aren’t participating in the process that determines who has the power to address those problems.
And let’s remember that down-ballot races matter, too. Our political participation can’t disappear between presidential elections.
That’s another reason I’m such a strong advocate for early voting. It gives us options. You can vote when your schedule allows, and if something unexpected happens, you have time to make another plan. It also provides an opportunity to identify potential registration or identification problems while there’s still time to explore your options.
This is especially important in Harris and surrounding counties, where thousands of registered voters are on the suspense list. Some mistakenly believe that means they’re ineligible to vote. That’s simply not true. Many can still cast a regular ballot after confirming their residence information. Check your registration at VoteTexas.gov and visit HarrisVotes.com for voting locations. Early voting continues through Oct. 30.
And while we’re making our own voting plans, let’s think about the people around us. One thing I’ve always loved about our community is our ability to rally around one another. When somebody needs help, we show up. When there’s something worth celebrating, we bring everybody, including cousins nobody remembers inviting.
Imagine bringing that same energy to voting.
That’s the idea behind the Defender Network’s #RoundUpFive campaign, and I’m asking everyone to participate. Round up five people in your circle. Friends, family members, co-workers, neighbors, or church members. Ask them one question: What’s your voting plan?
Find out when they plan to vote, whether they know their polling location, and whether they need transportation. If they’ve already voted, encourage them to round up five more people. Imagine the impact if everyone reading this column reached five people, and those five encouraged five more.
I’m especially hopeful about our young people. The North Carolina A&T students who marched an hour to the polls after officials closed their campus polling location remind us that this generation shouldn’t be underestimated. We need to encourage that determination and help translate it into participation nationwide.
Voting won’t solve every problem facing Black America. We still have to hold elected officials accountable and demand results long after the election signs come down. But voting remains one of our most important tools for influencing the direction of our communities.
Seeing more than 104,000 Harris County residents turn out on October 19 gives me hope. Now let’s keep that momentum going. Make your voting plan, cast your ballot, and help somebody else do the same. Our ancestors fought too hard for us to have a voice in this democracy for us to take that responsibility lightly.
Vote early. Then #RoundUpFive.
