Charles E. Wilson: Why I have mixed feelings on this Election Day
I love walking to the polls on Election Day. With every step I take toward the voting booth, I remind myself of everyone who fought so hard to give me my right to cast my ballot. But this year, that love and excitement is mixed with nerves and anger. While I’m still excited to have my voice be heard in our democracy, I am nervous for my health and the health of others, and I am angry that so many of our nation’s leaders, especially our president, don’t seem to care.
I shouldn’t have to jeopardize my health to cast my vote. No one should. I can’t believe I even have to say that. But with the coronavirus pandemic far from over and in-person elections still happening in our home of Washington, DC, and across the country, some people are being forced to choose whether to risk getting sick by going to the polls, or to stay home and sit it out.
There are many who feel their vote doesn’t even matter at this point. Joe Biden is the Democratic Party’s presumptive presidential nominee and the only person left in the primary race. Four of DC’s eight wards have only uncontested elections on the ballot. Why should you vote when there’s so much at risk and so little at stake on the ballot?
Well, the answer is simple. You should vote because there are crucial local elections taking place — including contested races for the DC Council seats in wards 2, 4, 7 and 8. Your voice matters, and we need to ensure DC has strong Democratic elected officials, especially as the fight for statehood ensues and especially considering the state of our nation right now.
Once we are past today’s primary, we will be working as hard as we can to ensure that every District resident can vote by mail in the November election, because getting Donald Trump out of the White House is our top priority. We will be making calls, sending texts, and (hopefully) knocking on doors in and around DC to help make sure that happens.
But for DC’s June 2 primary and June 16 special election in Ward 2, we want every District resident to take steps to safeguard their health while still participating in our democracy. We may be a strong blue city, but we have had our share of shoddy Democrats. We need to make sure we are electing leaders with integrity and a commitment to our citizens, not special interests.
So if you plan on voting in-person, let me restate the obvious: Wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet from others around you, wash your hands frequently, and vote with the interests of DC citizens at heart. And know that, despite the curfew in place on Tuesday night, the polls will be open until 8 p.m. and voting is deemed an essential activity that allows you to be on the streets.
Charles E. Wilson is chair of the DC Democratic Party.
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interesting article. thank you