Your vote matters

Election Day is coming soon, on May 7.& Early voting for Marion County is open now – and we all need to do our civic duty and vote. In 2019, Marion County became a vote center county, meaning you can vote at any location in Marion County, regardless of where you live. There are 186 locations open on election day, and 9 early vote locations throughout the county. If you’re not able to vote in person, you may be eligible to vote by mail. In the last presidential primary in 2020, voter turnout in Marion County was 22%. While the pandemic certainly impacted this low number, Marion County’s voter turnout often falls below national averages. This must change. Why is it so important to vote in this election, or any election? Throughout history, Black voter participation has constantly been under attack. It’s only been 59 years since the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Before, Black voters were legally barred from voting, or & singled out for poll taxes or poll tests, like accurately counting the number of jelly beans in a jar, just to get their ballot. We’ve made enormous progress in the last 60 years, but...