To those of you who have voted in local elections already, thank you!!!! To those who haven't done so yet, please don't let November 2 get by you.
For many years, a lot of Democrats in Hall County were disengaged. Often that was because there weren't any real choices on the ballot, as Republicans ran unopposed. In Gainesville right now, we have a choice! If Gainesville Democratic voters don't go to the polls, consider how that will factor into a decision to run by other Democrats in future.
Our goal is to elect Democrats to local, state and federal office. While we are still a minority in Hall County, 2020 showed that we can continue to move the needle in favor of Democrats in a Presidential race and in US Senate races.
The slow turnout for our local elections doesn't bode well for Democrats' chances, either in this year's mayoral race in Gainesville, nor for 2022 races for Governor, US Senator, and US Congress.
If we can't get people to the polls in an election that we can win, for an office that has an impact on the daily lives of everyone in Gainesville and most people in Hall County, what can we expect for the future?
Hall County is not alone in the lack of voter engagement with the 2021 municipal elections. Across Georgia, early voting is a tiny fraction of 2020 turnout.
Democracy is hard work. Without a persistent commitment to voting in every election cycle, we may lose our democracy to an authoritarian minority party who keeps their voters angry all the time. Is that what it takes to get Americans to the polls?
Please, don't procrastinate any longer. If you requested an absentee ballot but haven't returned it yet, drop it off this week. If you haven't voted, do it this week. Your active participation has huge ripple effects for recruiting candidates, getting volunteers to phone bank and canvass, for inspiring newly-qualified voters to turn out for Democrats.
Do it for the present. Do it for the future. Please VOTE.
