Get Out the Vote!
Are you concerned about the well-being of Petaluma's public schools and support for their teachers? What about wildfire suppression efforts? Election day is fast approaching and these issues are on the ballot. And, of course, there is a contentious and eventful presidential primary that our communities need to weigh in on, too. You may feel jaded about politics and politicians, but elections have consequences that may be antithetical to what you hope our future as a nation may be.
Your vote matters. There are many instances of elections being won by less than 1 percent of the total vote. There are also many instances in which local and state ballot initiatives are closely fought. When we fail to exercise our right to vote, we are giving away our power to make a difference to others whose views and policies are not in line with our values.
At the Deviled Eggery, we affirm that the diverse voices in our community deserve and need to be heard through the electoral process. Voting is what gives each of us a voice in deciding who will represent us in policy making bodies and what new ballot initiative will improve our communities. It is a primary way in which we can help establish future direction both locally and nationally. That’s why we have recently served as a voter outreach center, with volunteers making just under 500 calls (and hundreds more planned for Election Day Eve) to remind Petaluma residents of the importance of voting. This GOTV effort is consistent with the Deviled Eggery’s commitment to social justice and healthy communities, and we hope to continue this work in the future.
The right to vote for all American citizens has been a hard fought battle. In 1920, the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote. Native Americans were not universally granted the right to vote until 1924. African Americans waited even longer and were finally universally granted the right to the ballot box in 1965. But voter participation by those groups—and others—historically has been low, in large part due to a variety of voter suppression efforts. In the past, poll taxes, literacy tests, and intimidation were the main means of voter suppression. Today, voter suppression efforts take many new forms and thus the fight continues.
The Deviled Eggery urges you to affirm that your voice, views, and values matter in the electoral process, and it hopes that you will vote and also will join in helping others to vote. So, find your mail-in ballot, fill it out, and mail it in for free by the March 5 deadline. Check on your neighbors to see if they need help with their ballots, with finding information about ballot measures, or with getting to a voting center.