With the 2024 election a little over 50 days away, all of us are noticing an increase in politics in our day-to-day lives. Just this week, the internet exploded in reaction to the second presidential debate as the two candidates went back and forth on national television.
Although the visibility of politics during this time is undeniable, there is still a considerable amount of work to be done when it comes to actually addressing the issues that fill our timelines and newspapers.
Most importantly, the individual right to vote must be protected and promoted. Here in Mississippi, there have been a number of efforts that are not pro-voter by any means.
The history of voting rights in Mississippi has been fraught with systemic racism and actions to disenfranchise Black citizens with restrictions designed to maintain white supremacy. Despite federal interventions such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965, discriminatory barriers persisted well into the 20th century.
However, thanks to civil rights activists and some lawmakers, significant progress has been made in dismantling these practices. With the removal of obstacles such as literacy tests and poll taxes expanding democratic participation, Mississippians now enjoy greater access to the ballot box.
Even though some legal barriers to voting have seemingly been dismantled, more subtle forms of voter suppression continue to persist in Mississippi and other states.
Those in positions of authority are effectively stifling the voices of underprivileged populations in efforts to retain their hold on political power. It is critical to understand that no one party or ideology is responsible for the assault on voting rights in Mississippi. Republicans and Democrats have both been accused of erecting obstacles that suppress voting in order to win elections.
Voter laws and gerrymandering disproportionately impact minority communities and serve to maintain the status quo of white political power. In fact, according to a recent three-judge panel ruling, the Mississippi vote was manipulated due to an unrepresentative voting map. Even though nearly 40% of our state’s population was Black, our voting districts did not reflect that fact.
Mississippi has purged thousands of voters in accordance with House Bill 1310. While some instances of voting rolls being updated are justified, such as removing deceased persons’ names, other instances leave once-registered voters confused and incorrectly removed from their counties’ voting roll.
Mississippi’s restrictions on voting accessibility measures like early voting and absentee balloting further disenfranchise marginalized populations. In a time where technological advancements should make voting easier, Mississippi lags behind — the state is one of the seven states that does not permit online voter registration.
Even the most straightforward part of voting — filling out the ballot — can be fumbled. For instance, in the most recent gubernatorial election, one of the most populated precincts in our largest voting county ran out of ballots — a mistake that cost us thousands of votes in an election that will have an impact on our state for the next several years. Political officials looked to the secretary of state’s office and local election officials for answers and accountability regarding the mishap.
Despite these challenges, organizations and activists in Mississippi continue to fight for the right to vote and advocate for policies that expand access to the ballot box for all citizens. The struggle for voting rights in Mississippi is ongoing.
Grassroots organizations and advocacy groups continue to work to educate and mobilize disenfranchised communities, empowering them to exercise their right to vote and have a voice in shaping the future of Mississippi. As these groups began to once again pick up steam and impact elections, we saw the introduction of the 2023 voter purge law.
All Americans regardless of party membership must unite to oppose these attacks on the right to vote and guarantee that everyone has the opportunity to take part in free and fair elections.
Only 65% of eligible voters turned out to cast a ballot during our last presidential election, and the percentage continues to be considerably lower during midterm elections As a result, local elections come and go as an afterthought and can sometimes be uncompetitive, leaving us with officials who are not as focused or concerned with constituents as they maybe should be.
Remember, Democracy is a right that is guaranteed to all people — not just a select few. We must do all in our ability to protect it.
A’Davion Bush is an opinion contributor. He is a sophomore public policy major from Indianola, Miss. He is also an ASB senator at large.
Editors note: The original publication of this article cited the recent redistricting in Mississippi as a result of a Supreme court ruling. This citation was incorrect and has since been updated to cite the ruling as a decision made by a panel of three judges.
