What’s happening?
At a press conference on Monday, youth voter advocates and Mayor Brandon Scott urged young people in Baltimore City to vote in the upcoming primary elections on July 19, Marcus Dierterle reports for Baltimore Fishbowl.
Why is it critical for young people to vote in local and statewide elections?
Natasha Murphy, the deputy director of advocacy for the nonprofit Black Girls Vote Inc., emphasized the importance of voting to shape “the future of our democracy,” as those elected now will make key decisions about social justice, education, and public safety in the future.
Another youth leader, Aries Prince, founder of the nonprofit Baltimore City Youth Voter Registration Committee, encouraged young voters to exercise their civic responsibility at all levels of government.
“Policies and change start from the ground up in your communities and neighborhoods,” Prince said. “Young adults, we have the power to change the outcome of elections by casting our votes for the officials and representatives that we feel most effectively represent us and advocate us in local government. This is why our presence at the polls is vital.”
Anything else I should know?
Baltimore City still needs about 800 to 1,000 election judges to assist with voting procedures. Residents interested in serving can call the elections board at 410-396-5550 or sign up here. More information on the primary elections can be found here.
You can read more here.
Editorial Disclaimer: Reporting for this story was provided by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and we thank them for their support. However, the findings and conclusions presented in this article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Foundation.
