As a woman of color, I know that voting was not always a natural-born right. When I was young, my mother taught me that voting was important by teaching me its history. She told me about her mother, who wanted to vote but was refused the chance. Born in 1936, my grandmother faced barriers like literacy tests, poll taxes, and other racist tactics used to prevent Black people from voting until the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965.

Even now, 58 years later, many people of color face discrimination at the polls. Since I turned 18, I vote because the issues that matter to me are decided by the people who we elect into office. As a U.S. citizen, I know that my elected officials hold positions of power because we give them that right every time we go to vote. That’s why I got involved in voter registration drives on campus during my time at NCCU and why I joined the You Can Vote team earlier this year–to encourage my peers to use their voices at the ballot box and elect officials who reflect their personal goals and values.

Learning more about the roles and responsibilities of elected officials through You Can Vote has made me realize that voting is even more important than I previously thought. What if you get arrested? Will the District Attorney charge you with a crime? District Attorneys are elected positions and can influence which crimes are prosecuted. Will the judge set bail? Judges are also elected positions and determine if you have to stay in jail until your trial or if you can go home on bail. What if you go to jail? County jails are overseen by sheriffs, which are–you guessed it!–elected positions who determine how jails are managed and what services are available to those incarcerated there. You have the power to use your voice at the ballot box and ensure that the individuals who hold these positions represent your views on public safety and criminal justice.

I’ve also learned that elected officials impact more mundane parts of my everyday life. When I graduated from college, I wasn’t prepared to deal with inflation and ridiculous price increases on gas and groceries. When searching for an apartment, I didn’t know how to ensure the building was up to code or the elevator was safe. I didn’t know who to call to set up my utilities or if the trash and recycling didn't get picked up. These issues and so many more are overseen by elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels.

When I joined YCV’s team as Communications Manager earlier this year, I was excited to have the opportunity to share this knowledge with other young people across NC. Click below to learn how you can get involved and share the importance of voting on your campus and in your community.

The first step is to make sure you’re registered at your current address. Visit youcanvote.org/lookup to check your registration or youcanvote.org/campus to find out which address to use on your voter registration form if you live on campus.
Become a campus volunteer and help students on your campus learn about upcoming elections. Visit youcanvote.org/students to learn more.
There are local elections this fall in over 500 cities and towns across NC! Visit youcanvote.org/local to find out if your city is voting in 2023.
Visit youcanvote.org/wob to learn about the roles and responsibilities of the 19 offices on the ballot in 2023-2024 and how they impact the issues you care about.

Cherie Witter serves as Communications Manager for YCV and is a proud graduate of North Carolina Central University.

Students, Use Your Voice!