By Dianne Anderson

Gen Z and Millennials seem revved up and raring to go as Black Los Angeles Young Democrats (BLAYD) want to keep the momentum going strong enough for voters to cast their ballots on the last stretch to Election Day.

Young folks are aware and enthusiastic, which, by itself, is not enough to pull the Party in November.

Maurice Johnson  BLAYD president wants the community mobilized, and educated about the many early voting options. The most important is voter registration.

“Part of the biggest challenge that we’re seeing particularly with BLAYD is that young Black folks are not really registered to vote. We all have an opinion, we’re all excited about Kamala Harris, but there’s not been this big push to register to vote,” said Johnson, who also works closely with the Black Long Beach Young Democrats

One misconception is that one vote doesn’t count, even though some elections have been lost for a handful of votes. He tries to stress that for local state and federal levels, Black votes are even more important because Blacks generally make up the minority in politics.

Another way to pave the way for young Black voices to be elevated is to understand ballot language, the candidates, the measures and propositions, and potential laws.

Getting resources in front of the people, such as physical paper voter registration forms has been a priority, he said. The organization makes good use of the Secretary of State QR Code for easy access to registration.

“As much as you have your opinion and you have thoughts about the election, you’re also sort of your money where your mouth is when you cast  your vote for who you want in different elections,” he said.

Johnson said BLAYD appreciates President Biden’s decision to uplift VP Harris, which drew a surge of both young and older voters to the DNC convention, many young voters there for the first time. He works on policy issues for a councilmember at LA City Hall, and wasn’t able to make the convention, but he plans to be at the inauguration.

These days, he finds younger voters want to get a handle on economic systems, on taxes that come out of their paychecks, and why the cost of living and housing is soaring.

“What most people care about is how do these policies affect my life?” he said. “How much I can buy with my paycheck and different economic policies the president puts in place, and how that trickles down to the Fed, state and local neighborhoods.”

Black LA Dems also serve countywide, and surrounding cities, and are the premier club, one of three, including Long Beach and the Inland Empire. Their goal is to work together to engage local areas, and drive awareness on policies and candidates for local office.

“We provide education to understand why this is the most important election year of our time and how they can be part of it,” he said. “We’re going out to the streets, to their events block clubs, to let people know there is still time to vote.”

In Orange County, Darlene Futrel is also concerned with challenges facing her county’s voter engagement, where many residents there feel disenfranchised from the political process, that their vote doesn’t count.

On September 21, their  FREE Bowling Party/Voter Education/Registration Drive targets ages 18-34 and runs from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 pm at Splitsville Luxury in Downtown Disney District.

With Election Day just around the corner, she said they want to include, educate and register every eligible voter so no one is left behind and no one sits this one out.

“By hosting or participating in local events, we create opportunities for face-to-face interactions, allowing us to answer questions and provide information directly to community members,” said Futrel, president of the Orange County chapter of the National Action Network.

Outreach campaigns are in full force. They have hired a Voter Engagement expert from SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) to educate voters on participation on the impact of local elections.

She encourages participants to take what they have learned and educate and register their family, friends, co-workers and community members. They will also check the status and, or, register all eligible attendees.

“Me personally, when I am out and about, at the gas station, grocery store, concerts, etc., and have conversations with complete strangers, especially our young people, I always ask “Are you registered to vote?” she said.

When someone tells her they’re not, she asks why. If they are Black, she stresses that too many Black people have died in the pursuit of voting rights.

Not voting means that others are the decision-makers.

“Too many of our allies, people who already had the right to vote, yet put their lives on the line so that we could enjoy that same right, for you not to vote,” she said. “When you don’t vote you are in essence muting yourself, silencing yourself and silence is compliance.”

She also utilizes the QR Code for easy access to California Online Voter Registration.  OC NAN is nonpartisan, but she said they are reaching the community by collaborating with local organizations, social media platforms, using comparison charts, addressing vital issues, in propositions, deadlines, around upcoming elections.

Recently, she engaged an 80-year-old Vietnam Vet at a local doughnut shop. He was not interested in voting, but in the end, she may have sold him on the idea that all people should exercise their voice.

“He disagreed with that, but then when he got ready to leave, he turned around and said “You know what you are right and I’m going to vote this year. “

Voters should start watching the mail on October 7 for their ballots coming in from their counties.

The Secretary of State’s website lays out all the important dates to save. October 21 is the last day to register to vote online for the General Election at https://registertovote.ca.gov. Voters are encouraged to check Voter Status at https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/

For those not registered even at the last minute, they can also register on the same day as the Election. To learn how to register to vote, see
https://vote.gov/register/california

Save the date, November 5, 2024,
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-nov-5-2024

To see the SOS QR Code, https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/myvote-democracy-work-project/daw-qr-code

Learn more about what VP Harris stands for, https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/vice-president-harris/

For more BLAYD information, see https://www.blacklayoungdemocrats.com/

For NAN OC, see https://www.nan-oc.com/ National Action Network – Orange County Chapter