The Ripple Effect of Voter Apathy: Two History-Making Black Detroiters Will be Replaced on Jan. 20

Only 47.2% of eligible Detroit voters cast ballots in the November 2024 general election.  Whether the lack of voting was the result of a disdain for the process, disdain for the presidential candidates, or a disdain for the political process leading up to voting day, the result was a series of what can be considered “unintended consequences.”   One of the most telling consequences of voter apathy has been the loss of significant political leadership in Michigan—both at the state and federal levels. Recently, Michigan experienced a political shift that should be a wake-up call for all voters: the removal of Joe Tate as the first Black Speaker of the House in Michigan’s history and the impending end of Dawn Ison’s tenure as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Both of these shifts can be traced back to the long-term impact of voter disengagement, a factor that too many people overlook when they fail to participate in elections.  As Michigan residents prepare for another year of political activity, it’s crucial to remember that the stakes are not just about who holds the White House. While presidential elections grab most of the headlines, and headlines often focus on the race...