As of early Wednesday morning, May 20th, only 5 votes separated the top two candidates in the 44th District State Rep race. (Update: as of Wednesday afternoon the Jefferson County Clerk’s website now has a difference of 163 votes.) It should serve as a big reminder that every vote matters.
About 3 weeks before the primary, a small group of dedicated Louisville Democrat Volunteers starts making calls to folks we have given rides to the polls in past elections. We talk to some, leave messages for some that have their voice mailboxes set up, and mark some as needing another call. We also get calls into the Louisville Democratic Party office with messages from people who need a ride to the polls.
So, in the weeks before the primary we start contacting volunteer drivers and recording their availability for the Saturday early voting and for election day.
A few days before early voting starts, we re-call all those who asked for rides and confirm the date and time they want to go vote. We also check if there are any special needs and to remind them of the need for photo IDs. Some have canes, walkers, wheelchairs, or visual impairments. Some can’t climb up into the higher vehicles or can’t get out of the lower vehicles. We match the needs of the voter with our drivers!
This past Saturday and Tuesday we drove over 100 folks to the polls. (Some of them probably voted in District 44’s race.) We all shared a determination to make sure everyone who wants to vote gets that opportunity. For many people, going to the polls in person is very important.
Along the way, we answered questions and listened to voters as they told us remarkable stories. There are always stories that touch our hearts and confirm for the volunteers that this is important work. This year, for me, it was talking to 3 different women we had driven to the polls in past elections. We had also taken their Moms with them – but this election all 3 of their Moms had died and they were sad that they wouldn’t be riding together. We shared a moment of compassion and understanding. It mattered.
Here’s to the countless hours volunteers put in trying to Get Out The Vote, and to all the members of our community that continue to show up at the polls to make their voices heard! Every Vote Matters!
--30--
Comments
