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I hope you’re having a wonderful day and are staying open-minded throughout this presidential campaign season. I remember turning 18 and feeling so excited about the opportunity to express my interests and concerns through voting. Armed with knowledge of the election process, an understanding of the three branches of government (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial), and the history of my people’s struggle for the right to vote, I embraced the belief that my vote counts. Not only did I register to vote, but I also volunteered to help others register in Chicago.
I recall going to a subsidized housing complex and meeting a 92-year-old man who registered to vote but could neither read nor write. His desire to participate in the election to help decide the next President of the U.S. deeply moved, impressed, and inspired me. His trust in me, a volunteer, to ensure he could cast his vote was profound. So, I printed his name, and he signed with an acceptable "X" signature.
While in LA, I continued volunteering at polling sites. Later, back in Chicago, I traveled to Iowa to knock on doors to get people registered to vote for the 2016 election. Today, I write to equip voters with knowledge and information to help them discern and make informed decisions. I remain in awe of our rights as citizens and grateful for the trust placed in volunteers who swear to be unbiased and register people to exercise their voting rights. Yet, hostility toward these efforts continues, particularly in the South, though it’s not exclusive to that region.
In my youth, I was quite clear about not wanting to listen to those who chose not to vote—I’d openly tell them that if they didn’t vote, they gave up their right to complain—at least to me. I just didn’t want to engage with those perspectives. I now realize the importance of understanding why they made that choice.
Voting in America is both a privilege and a responsibility, as it’s a key element of democracy that empowers citizens to shape their government and society. As a privilege, it’s a right that many, especially marginalized groups historically excluded from voting, fought hard to secure. It’s also a freedom many around the world long for.
Too often, we think our duty ends after voting. It does not. Voting is only the beginning. Our responsibility as citizens requires us to stay informed, consider the impact of our choices, and participate actively in civic life to help ensure a government that truly reflects the will of the people. Engaging in voting also strengthens the democratic process, which depends on citizen participation to remain fair and effective.
Between elections, we have several responsibilities to help hold elected officials accountable and stay engaged in the democratic process:
1. Stay Informed: Follow news, legislation, and issues that affect your community and country, especially those related to policies and actions taken by elected representatives from a variety of sources.
2. Engage in Communication: Reach out to elected officials to express opinions, ask questions, or provide feedback on decisions and policies. This could involve writing letters, making calls, attending town hall meetings, or even organizing your community around important issues.
3. Advocate for Issues: Support causes or policies important to you, either by joining advocacy groups, attending rallies, or volunteering with organizations working on these issues, such as education, immigration, minimum wage, social security, healthcare, taxes, and more.
4. Promote Civic Education: Encourage others in your community to understand their rights and responsibilities and to participate in civic discussions, fostering a more informed and engaged electorate. From an informed community emerges an informed constituency.
5. Hold Representatives Accountable: Pay attention to whether officials fulfill campaign promises and act in the public interest. Citizens can organize or support movements, sign petitions, or participate in recalls if elected officials are not performing their duties responsibly.
6. Support Local Governance and Community Initiatives: Engage in community activities and local government meetings, which often address issues that directly impact daily life, such as education, public safety, and infrastructure.
Consistency is key. The aforementioned actions ensure that democracy is a continuous, active process rather than just a one-time event during elections. They empower you to embrace your responsibility as a voter.
Visionary Kai EL´ Zabar has worked as CEO of arts organizations and as editor, writer and multimedia consultant accumulating a significant number of years in experience as an executive, journalist,publisher, public relations, media training, marketing, internal and external communications. Kai currently continues her life’s work as Editor-in-Chief Of Chicago News Weekly where she has resumed her column, “E NOTES.” She is ecstatic to be in the position to grace Chicago and the world with a publication that articulates the Black voice.