 We are in the election season. Everywhere you look there is an ad, a person, or just a simple notice about voting for the November 3rd election. You can’t simply mind someone’s business on Instagram without them telling you to vote. However, there is a problem with this situation. The “make sure you vote” campaign that has plagued the lives of us that consume American media. And that’s the major issue. Everyone yells vote but no one goes into any deeper details as to why? Democrats push this narrative to “get that man out of the white house” whereas republicans push the narrative because “Biden and the democrats are bringing socialism and communism to the country”. If you do not conform to either of these two ideologies, people believe that you don’t care for the development of the country. It’s even worse than if you tell someone they aren’t going to vote. The shaming of non-voters is one of the major issues of this election period from both sides. I believe that people should go out to vote, but I am not yelling at non-voters and you shouldn’t as well. Here are a couple of reasons why you shouldn’t shame non-voters:
Another major issue that has plagued the news world right now felons and their right to vote. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, only two states, Maine and Vermont, the felons never lose the right to vote. In 18 states felons only lose their rights while incarcerated, but have an automatic restoration after release, and 20 states their rights are lost until completion of sentence (parole and/or probation) with an automatic restoration after. However the last 11 states their rights are lost until completion of sentence, some states there is a post-sentencing period and there is a need for additional action required for restoration. While prisons shouldn’t exist in the first place (another post for another day), restricting the rights of these humans, especially with these states such as Mississippi which has the highest populations of Black people at 39% with Alabama following at 28%, Virginia with 21% and Florida with 18%. Florida, which is a part of the last 11 states, is a part of that issue where the judges push that felons currently can’t vote until they pay fines and fees. This is a major problem as many of these felons are people who fall under the poverty lines and do not have the time to run around to do all the paperwork.
If you do go the polls this election season, please remember a couple of things:
Sources: Anderson, C. (2020, September 11). Judges: Florida felons can't vote until they pay fines, fees. Retrieved September 30, 2020, from https://apnews.com/article/florida-voting-rights-elections-courts-voting-b4f68dd4f11a6df4430fbdc74ae93de3 Peritz, A. (2019, April 08). Perspective | Registered to vote? Your state may be posting personal information about you online. Retrieved September 30, 2020, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/04/09/registered-vote-your-state-is-posting-personal-information-about-you-online/ Potyondy, P. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2020, from https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/felon-voting-rights.aspx Voting & Survivor Privacy. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2020, from https://www.techsafety.org/voter-registration-privacy
0 Comments
 It's been a minute. Like a really long minute. My last post on this blog was my tribute to the late great Kobe Bryant. I thought that was the worst thing that could have happened this year. Oh, how I was wrong. For those who are new to this space, welcome to IslandGalTing. This blog, which I’ve been operating on and off since 2017, is where I express all of my thoughts and emotions as well as analysis of our current socio-political climate. For those who’ve been rocking with me for a long time, welcome back! I promise not to go on a hiatus this time. The main reason for the hiatus was that my brain was occupied with my classes and working for my school’s student-led newspaper, The Sunflower. Now that I am unemployed, I still want to share these thoughts with the public so here we are. Are you ready? Today’s post is just a quick life update and a rundown on what to expect from me and this brand for the rest of the year. On the personal side of things, 2020 treated me like it treated everyone else. It smacked me in the back of the head with a solid cast iron skillet. Challenges included failing French, my passport expiring in the middle of the lockdown, and not being sure what’s wrong with my health. However, these experiences (not all) have taught me valuable lessons, showed me new things, and helped me mold into the person I want to be. I’ve stepped out of my comfort zones, tried new recipes, and acknowledged a lot of past traumas that I’m now working healing from. I might not fully know who I am as a person, but I am getting there slowly but surely. As of the 21st September 2020, this is who I am. Hi, I am Kamilah Gumbs hailing from the sunshine city Sint Maarten/Saint Martin. I am the eldest of the three children and have aspirations to be a policy worker and an author. I currently attend Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas, and is majoring in political science with a minor in communication. I was a staff columnist for The Sunflower Newspaper, Wichita State’s student newspaper, but then I quit for mental health reasons. I am currently sitting as an underserved senator in the 63rd session of the Student Government Association. I am also a friend to many, a sister to many, and one fool on twitter (follow my personal @agapebruh). I love the kitchen, I love sxm soca and I love basketball. I don’t really do romantic relationships but I will die for my friends and family. Lastly, I also like women. Correction, I love women. If you have a problem with that, I don’t know what I can tell you. I mean I unfortunately like men as well. So, yes for those who didn’t know, I am a Black bisexual Caribbean woman. That’s me. What to expect from IslandGalTing:
As I wrap up this post with King T-MO’s 2006 Roadmarch, VIllage Burn Down playing in the background, I want to leave this with you. The world that we know it is changing and is changing quickly. We are consumed with every bad news that fills our timelines every day. We are stuck in Zoom University, Zoom work, Zoom dates, just zoom everything. Things might seem dull. Things might be dull. However, just remember to you, the person that’s reading this right now is great. No matter what anyone says, what your anxiety says, you are great. |
Proudly powered by Weebly