The Disenfranchised Voter

My name is Lydia Alston-Murphy, and I am a political editorial writer for the Minority Reporter. I will be writing thought provoking articles with a focus on politics in all levels of government. I would like to hear from you; if you relate to an article, if I touched a nerve, or, if you have any questions you can post a comment below the article email me at alstonmurphy@gmail.com

As this presidential election season heats up and we prepare to cast our votes, there are some votes that may not be cast in this election or any election after. It’s a vote that hasn’t been cast in years or at all, a vote that is ignored. It is the vote and voice of the disenfranchised.

These potential voters are discouraged, don’t trust politics or politicians and are tired of feeling as if they are choosing the lesser of two evils. The bottom line is, they don’t see themselves in the candidates, legislature, the laws, or the way this country is governed at all.

Before President Joe Biden ended his campaign for President and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Presidential Nominee, disenfranchised potential voters had flashbacks of the 2020 election when they begrudgingly chose between “two old white men.” The thought of this was unfavorable and they were going to make their point by not voting. This group is discouraged because of a myriad of valid reasons.

These reasons include feeling as if their votes don’t count or matter, they think politicians are corrupt and don’t care about the best interest of their constituencies. Other reasons include the fear of voter suppression, voter tampering and the threat to disqualify African American’s right to vote. In addition to the confusion regarding voter eligibility for people with records in the criminal justice system, these issues continue to be barriers that are challenging enough to make the disenfranchised remain silent on election day.

Although, some disenfranchised voters cast their votes for historical elections, like in 2008 when President Barack Obama, the first African American President was elected, they hoped things would be different and their voices would be heard. They heard the speeches, they believed, hoped and prayed for change, so they cast their votes, only to feel their circumstances remain unchanged.

Their voices were still not heard. Black men and women were still murdered by law enforcement, the number of people living in poverty continued to increase, school districts continued to deliver an inadequate, inequitable education to children of color, and the cost-of-living outweighed household incomes.

We are now in 2024 speeding to another Presidential election. Vice President Kamala Harris is driving. The assignment is understood. We know we must vote; we understand what’s at stake if we don’t. The excitement of a black woman being closer to the White House than Shirley Chisolm was, is infectious.

The disenfranchised potential voter might vote this time because they too understand what’s at risk, but will their voices be heard? Will their situations remain unchanged? Will the candidates think of or mention them as they stump and try to galvanize the nation to vote, or will their voices still be ignored?

~ Lydia Alston-Murphy, email me at alstonmurphy@gmail.com