With the election just one day away and early voting closed, it is very important for everyone to vote and have their voice heard. This means everyone: African Americans, Hispanics, whites, males, females and so on.
There is a lot at stake Tuesday. America could elect the first African American female president. So why is it that African Americans are not voting in record numbers this election?
There can be many factors why African Americans are not showing up at the polls, but it’s possible some are scared to vote; some may not even want to see an African American female in the White House.
There are many African American voters who are also leaning toward voting for former President Donald Trump instead of Vice President Kamala Harris.
Black Americans are projected to account for 14.0% of eligible voters in the United States in November, according to Pew Research Center projections.
The percentage of eligible voters who are Black has risen slowly in the past two decades. In 2012, for example, Black voters represented 13.2% of all eligible voters. In the last presidential election in 2020, they represented 13.5%.
African American voters can really make a change in this upcoming election because this election could make an impact in American history.
Shaniyah Ellies, a FAMU student, spoke on Black voters and if they are intimidated by the elections process. “I think most Black voters are not afraid to vote, but I think there is a fair share of Black voters who are afraid to vote,” she said.
“It is mainly due to misinformation, I feel like there is a stigma and there are years of mis-information and dis trust and voter suppression that has been broadcast on the black communities,” Ellies added.
There are numerous websites and news articles teeming with mis-information and fake news that can question if someone is able to vote — or if they should vote for said person or if they should not. It is necessary to watch for the spread of mis-information because nowadays it is hard to tell the difference between what is real and what is not unless research is done prior to voting.
This could also have an impact on why African Americans will not vote because they do not know what information to trust and what not to trust.
One Hundred Black Men of Tallahassee was contacted regarding this topic, but the organization did not respond.
African Americans should not be afraid or scared to vote because this election could change the future of the country and every vote matters.
For voters ages 18-24, according to NAACP.org, young voters — especially young Black men — need extra efforts to engage in the political process. It’s especially important that they have a reason to vote.
For more information, head to https://naacp.org/articles/black-voters-matter to learn more on why African American votes matter this election.