"When there’s a vacuum in our democracy, when we don’t vote, when we take our basic rights and freedoms for granted, when we turn away and stop paying attention and stop engaging and stop believing and look for the newest diversion, the electronic versions of bread and circuses, then other voices fill the void…. A politics of fear and resentment and retrenchment takes hold. And demagogues promise simple fixes to complex problems."

Click Barack Obama to read more of his speech on September 7, 2018

“My dear friends: Your vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have to create a more perfect union.” – John Lewis quote on voting, 2012 speech in Charlotte, North Carolina. For more quotes from John Lewis view the Black Alliance.org

WHO GOVERNS MATTERS

WHO VOTES MATTERS

YOUR VOTE MATTERS

"If you don't want to vote for yourself, vote for them. Vote for the marginalized. Vote for the people in this country who are suffering from oppression, and inequality, and abuse, and who need to have representation that best serves their interests." 

From Bryan Stevenson, attorney and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, quotes excerpted from a video made in 2016, still timely in 2020. See video at Emerson Collective

“Four years ago, too many people chose to believe that their votes didn’t matter. Maybe they were fed up. Maybe they thought the outcome wouldn’t be close. Maybe the barriers felt too steep,” …“Whatever the reason, in the end, those choices sent someone to the Oval Office who lost the national popular vote by nearly 3 million votes.” … “We’ve got to vote early, in person if we can,” …“We’ve got to request our mail-in ballots right now, tonight, and send them back immediately and follow up to make sure they’re received. And then make sure our friends and families do the same.”

Excerpts from Michelle Obama’s speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. See Slate.com for more coverage of that speech.