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Pioneer Group's Lake County Star Article

Released by the Pioneer Group and Published in February 24, 2022 edition of the Lake County Star
“Reader call for Re-framing Voting Rights Narrative”

Democrats are insisting that voting rights are fundamental for a healthy democracy. Presently the war of words on voting rights is centered primarily around black and brown voters. While pundits argue and debate what needs to be done to ensure passage of much needed voting rights legislation, the need to re-frame the narrative is also long overdue. Democrats should illustrate more succinctly to the populous, the effect failing to pass into law, the John R. Lewis Freedom to Vote Act, and also include in their assessment what the scenario would look like for every American, instead of just focusing on minorities.

So let’s get right to it. A sizable portion of White America’s reaction to Black Americans’ anxiety over the attack on voting rights is classic. By classic, I mean reacting nonchalantly, as though the death of the most fundamental principle enshrined in the U S Constitution (one-man-one-vote) is somehow, someone else problem. Let me show you how an attack on one group is an attack on all. Of the 81 million Democratic votes cast for President Joe Biden in the 2020 election, whites accounted for 44 percent, equaling 36 million votes. Hispanic, African, Asian, and Native Americans made up the remaining votes to assure Biden’s victory. The groups mentioned above had at least one thing in common, their values. It goes without saying, million of Whites share the same, or similar values and aspirations as the rest of their aforementioned Democratic constituents.

Therefore, it makes perfect sense to re-frame this issue of voting rights making it clear to everyone, especially those who do not have black or brown skin that their votes will also be negated in instances where minority votes are not counted (tossed out), and the legitimate winner can be rejected. Sure, it’s likely that some white suburbanite votes for instance might not get thrown away, but if their allied/constituents voter’s ballots are, then the effect of the discriminatory process equals the same result. The effect will be a nullification of white votes too. Even for Independents who will sometimes vote for either party, will no longer have that option in future elections, that is, if the Republican Party has its way with current nationwide voter suppression initiatives. It must be made clear, voting rights is not just a black, or brown issue. It is a Democratic issue that will affect every one of us.

For generations, both Democratic and Republican Presidents were chosen by people who may have voted for the opposite party in previous elections based on the candidate’s performance. Having that option will become a Democratic relic of the past. Every eligible American voter, including those that can’t see, or haven’t seen this cancer on democracy for what it is, please vote your conscious, recognizing that while it may appear on the surface, black and brown voters they’re coming after, in actuality it is all of us who will pay a crucial price, unless collectively our concern is amplified. It is my wish that we respond to this crisis head on, because there is no guarantee we will get a second chance to get it right!
By: Kofinsia Clyde A. Welford