(ThySistas.com) Election season is very high charged in our nation, and to be honest it is dangerous. There are those that want to make a point that violates the rights of others, and they don’t mind doing so violently. Then there are those of us that have to protect and defend ourselves from the harm those positions can cause. It is not paranoid to think unlawful police officers might be on the hunt, or that you don’t feel safe in Wal-Mart when you see a gun on a Trump supporter in an open carry state. If this is the angst, we internally feel just moving about our daily life…election season heightens that anxiety. Early voting is something more of us should consider. Yes, you can take the position that early voting allows you to get your civic duty out of the ways minimizing the line times at the polls. This is very true.
However, I would like to submit another perspective…early voting may be best for our safety. It is safe to assume there will be public outcry regardless of who wins, and as Black people…and Black women that is never safe for us as far too often we are the target of the backlash. In an effort to feel as normal as possible, and not live in fear, too many of us don’t immediately acknowledge the dangers that could be on the horizon…so we do not prepare. This election season is not safe, and some would argue this is case situation more so than normal.
We can use early voting to teach our children about the importance of the voting process, and the significance of voting for our people. That conversation can be difficult for some parents, but so is explaining the current social climate. The discussion around early voting could segway into teaching our children how to observe the social climate. They need to know when a time period might be more dangerous than normal, and how to properly respond to that feeling. They need to know that some of us do not want to be on the streets on election day, and maybe not the day after depending on that night. This is not because we are living in fear, nor are we cowards [this has to be said to the current generation, so they don’t misunderstand what they are being told]; we are prioritizing safety and the well-being of our families. If we can minimize the change for negative encounters with the police or racist citizens that is in our best interest. We should only have to aggressively fight when there is no other recourse that serves us better. It is important to put self in the position to live to fight another day.
Even without health challenges I would want to opt, as a woman, for early voting. I want to be sure my vote is cast, and I do not trust the system to protect me. Every election season the interaction on election day gets bolder and more brazen. Civil discourse is something our nation simply does not understand and choosing leadership is when this is proven to the citizens of our country, and the world. In many states it might not too late to early vote. Encourage others in our community to make use of the opportunity to be heard via your ballot in a manner that may be safer than dealing with the tension of election day. It is important to make this a priority as we already know for state and local elections our voice is sorely needed as these elections drastically affect our everyday life.
The presidential election this year is not about just choosing leadership, but it will determine how the U.S. will move forward and how we are received globally. There is so much on the line and our vote is mandatory in terms of need, yet some honestly don’t want to see election day for fear of violence. Yet, the absentee ballot is not trusted by so many of us for various reasons. This is all the more reason to make use of early voting. We may find it safer to gather our family and carpool to the polls when the entire nation is not at the polls.
Staff Writer; Chelle’ St James
May also connect with this sister via Twitter; ChelleStJames.