Getting Out the Vote Matters with This League
As I have been busy becoming involved with other organizations in our communities, I am listening to what community members are saying. I heard about medical and mental health care (including lack of access, no insurance, and high costs), affordable housing/homelessness, fentanyl abuses, limited financial aid for higher education, ICE attacks in our communities, cutting of police and fire department budgets, closure of a Senior Center that provide social wellness services, voting ID restrictions, environmental and climate change concerns, water shortages and usage, recycling, transgenders in sports, food hunger, and economic dispersity affecting Yakima County’s communities’ health, safety, and wellbeing. All these issues are Yakima County concerns. As a League that promotes voting and education to our communities, how do we provide this? Can we improve our outreach into communities that we do not live in?
Also, I have been putting out questions to diverse members of our community about voting or not voting. For voters it is all about responsibility and keeping our right to vote. It is about protecting the Constitution that structured our government with levels of checks and balances that would keep our country free of authoritarian or dictatorship rule. For non-voters the choice not to vote is disheartening to hear. Responses such as, “Why vote?” “Our votes don’t count”, “Our local representatives don’t listen”, “No one cares what I think”, and last, “It’s a waste of time”. As you are reading this, are you thinking (as I do) that citizens have a lack of belief or trust that democracy can work, especially during these challenging times? If I can put one word to the lack of voter turnout, it is “discouragement”. There was one constructive response from a young male of voting age. His response was, “I don’t know ‘who’ or ‘what’ to vote for.” He needed resources and information.
So, let’s think of voting as having the power to make positive changes to Yakima County. When the community engages in action and goes out to vote that is power! Voting is the one thing that does not cost eligible citizens to do. Register to vote. It is free! People need to know that votes do count, especially when it comes to local elections and community services for today and the future. Our voices are also vital in getting others engaged to vote. How are those connections evolving?
What role can the League of Women Voters of Yakima County play to show our support for all our neighboring communities? A goal this year is that the League of Women Voters of Yakima County will work with other community organizations throughout the valley in getting nonvoters to become engaged. We can speak about the importance of an issue affecting them so they understand the pros and cons. As our mission states: Empowering Voters, Defending Democracy. So, let’s get out the vote (GOTV)! This is a huge task and a responsibility that needs community effort, involvement, and working alongside our alliances.
Let’s all work together to make a difference that will make positive changes in Yakima County and the Yakama Tribal Nation. Let’s understand our diverse community’s needs. Let’s help those people who have less than us know they are valued citizens and deserve the right to vote.
If democracy is dear to our hearts, this should be a strong reason why we empower people to vote and defend democracy. It’s time to spread our mission far and wide to diverse populations of people. It’s time to speak with our communities about what matters to them and encourage them to vote. Let’s strengthen our communities. Get out the votes! Voting matters!
As the president of the League of Women Voters of Yakima County, I am asking all members to join in to make a difference in our communities. Let’s connect with others. I am asking other like-minded organizations to work together with us to form strong alliances. Let’s get our communities voting again. Let’s gather voters together who care about their community to advocate for local decisions that will benefit all to become stronger. I know the League of Women Voters of Yakima County does care. I know that I do, too.
Cindy Olivas, President
LWVYC
