Let's Talk About Voting: Tabitha St. Bernard-Jacobs
Will you be voting by mail or in-person? If so, why?
"I'm planning to vote in person. It's a family tradition for us to take our family to vote. It'll be my daughter's first time because she's 1, so we're looking forward to it."
Why do you vote?
"I vote because I want to have a say in the type of people who lead my community and my country. My ancestors fought hard for my right to vote and I'm not going to let that fight be in vain by not showing up to the polls. I also vote for the many people who cannot because of unjust systems in this country."
How are you letting others know about voting, voter registration, and more?
"I work for Women's March and we've been engaging in several programs around voter engagement. We have a Sisterhood Sundays program where we're aiming to call everyone on our list to make sure they're ready to vote and to work with them on identifying 3 people in their lives they're going to be doing the same thing for. We've also been doing Textback Tuesdays and we've already texted over 3.5 million women about voting."
How do you think you can use your voice to make a difference in society?
"There are many ways. Voting is only one. You can also get involved by local organizing. Find a local organization that you want to support and volunteer with them. Get involved in local politics. Run for office. Talk to your loved ones about the power of civic engagement."
Do you believe the youth can make a difference when it comes to voting?
"Youth can definitely make a difference when it comes to voting. They have incredible power to make change. Those who can vote, should vote. Those who can't can challenge their loved ones who can vote to choose candidates that reflect values that protect everyone. It can be really powerful to hear from a young person about which candidates they choose, if they could. Those 1:1 conversations can be incredibly moving for undecided voters. Young people can get involved in local politics. They should check the age that they can run for office locally and do just that. No age is too young to get involved in one's community."
What causes are you the most passionate about when it comes to voting?
"I'm a Black immigrant mom so I'm looking for candidates who are committed to dismantling white supremacy and will prioritize racial justice education in schools. I'm looking for candidates who will protect immigrants, especially undocumented immigrants. I want candidates who will prioritize the things that matter to me as a working mother who needs affordable childcare and affordable healthcare for myself and my family. I want to see who will protect my right to choose what I want to do with my body, as a woman. They must protect reproductive freedom and abortion rights. I need candidates who will protect the lives of LGBTQIA people and work to create a country that is safe for them to be themselves. My brother-in-law was in the military. I want to see proper care for veterans and I also want to see a restructuring of international relations and defense so that, as a country, we don't send young people to fight senseless battles that put them in harm's way. Mostly, I want candidates who care. That would be a refreshing change."
