95% of Us Didn’t Vote, Why? + An OpEd Voting Guide

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95% of us won’t vote. Let’s change that . . . (Plus my take on current local races)

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Election season across the country is happening NOW. And early voting for the general election is at our doorstep. Voting is a right we should all embrace if we want to take control of our region and the accompanying decisions that will impact us for the next decade and beyond. And in addition to social issues, transportation now looms as the elephant in the room. Many initiatives have languished for decades because of our apathy. And it’s our own fault. Yes, I could go on with what hasn’t been addressed. But there is a frightening statistic that we need to take responsibility for:  From the time early voting began to the end of Tuesday’s Primary election day, less than five percent of eligible voters went to the polls to vote. That means 95% of our citizens seem to have no interest in making their voices heard where it counts. We will no doubt hear their protracted and uninformed opinions loudly on social media as they complain with no fact or data as their driver, instead letting passion and anger steer their keyboards. And the worst part? They will do it without ever setting foot into the one place they could actually affect change: The voting booth. And that is shameful.

As the 15^th largest city in the country, is that all the civic enthusiasm we can muster as we continue to grow? Do we not see that growth if managed and directed properly will offer vast economic benefits to all? If we elect leaders who continue to respond to growth with closed minds, and with naive notions that growth can be shut off, we will pay dearly. Why do so many imagine that leaders that have perspective, experience, and who want to collaborate, cooperate, and plan for our future are our enemy? Must we always grab a torch and march down the streets with pitchforks thinking that’s the solution to our problems?

Here are some thoughts about what’s happened so far in our Charlotte elections, to help you see my take on where leadership is headed.

• The results in District 4 were a clear disappointment. Wil Russell took on an incumbent who prides herself on being a disrupter. I’m all for shaking things up, but “shaking” without taking into consideration changing dynamics, is unproductive. Case in point, Council Member Johnson who does her shaking up by grinding the wheels of progress to a halt. Her opponent, Wil Russell, brought a lot to the table including hands on experience in providing affordable and attainable housing to those who need it, which is a top concern on the minds of many.  But sadly, cooler heads did not prevail. Let’s hope we have not seen the last of Wil in the political arena.
• As for some of the other races, Malcolm Graham, as was expected, won in District 2, which is a good thing.  He brings a steadying voice to the Council. Marjorie Molina deserved to retain her seat in District 5, and she did just that. We are looking forward to watching her grow in that role. In District 3, newcomer Tiawana Brown prevailed overwhelmingly against a former Member of Council.  I look forward to understating more about her perspective and her vision for the future of Charlotte. The At-Large race results were as expected with Dimple Ajmera receiving the most votes, followed by LaWana Mayfield, James Mitchell, and Victoria Watlington.  I’m sorry to see Braxton Winston move on to other things, but I do appreciate his time of service.
• The only two contests yet to be determined are that for Council District 6, where Tariq Bokhari has represented the district well since 2017, and the competition for Mayor Pro Tem with the winner being selected by a majority of the Council. Tariq is bright and an extremely hard worker and understands the complexities of governing better than most. While achieving the most votes in the general election has historically been the pathway to selection as Mayor Pro Tem, that did not turn out to be the case in 2022 (which occurred in a year due to no municipal election being held in 2021). That will be interesting to watch.

Here is another idea. Maybe your neighbors, relatives, and friends that live nearby don’t even realize there’s an election being held. Text or tell ten people and do your part to get the word out. If you live in Charlotte City Council District 6, you have an opportunity to do those things starting next month.

All that said, we need to be better. No more excuses. You can’t be too busy to take an interest in how your cities are being run. You can’t complain if you didn’t vote. Even if election day is busy for you, vote early. You typically have more than two weeks to do it. Work it in somewhere. If you have time to check your Facebook feed, comment on twitter, or even read this blog, you have time to get yourself into a voting booth and make your voice heard.

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