Serendipitous mashup aligns National Voter Registration, Constitution days
When you know better, you do better. Consider that from a faith lens. It’s why holy books are studied. They are north stars offering guidance for the journey of life.
The U.S. Constitution functions similarly as a compass providing direction to navigate America. In fact, this very day 237 years ago is when the signatures of 39 men codified the Constitution as the supreme law of the land detailing what the leaders of this country can and cannot do to us, what they’re supposed to do for us. That was Sept. 17, 1787.
So happy Constitution Day, also known as Citizenship Day.
The Constitution is an empowering document, actually, and it’s dynamic, very much alive and relevant for today’s times. Those without proper knowledge of it, though, miss out on the power.
These days, the proliferation of so much misinformation leaves vulnerable those unversed in the Constitution. It would not be beyond the reach of bad actors to hit the streets, for example, with a voter-suppression campaign claiming those with unpaid property taxes are ineligible to cast ballots in the Nov. 5 election. But those who know their Constitution could redirect that conversation to the document’s 24th amendment explaining that failure to pay taxes does not disenfranchise U.S. citizens who may be even more motivated to vote after watching the presidential debate the other night — well, not exactly in those terms, but that’s the idea.
House Bill 10 is recent legislation that moved through the North Carolina General Assembly. It would force the state’s sheriffs and their deputies to turn up the heat on individuals not born in this country. That same piece of legislation would divert money from public schools and funnel it to private schools in the form of vouchers to reimburse students’ parents and caregivers. The pending legislation is infuriating many. Yet there’s comfort in the Constitution when understanding that the dynamic document doubles as a planning guide stipulating in Article 1, sections 2 and 3 that members of the House of Representatives and Senate have to defend their elected positions every two and six years, respectively. In other words, voters uncomfortable with House Bill 10 can begin the work of electing new representatives to prevent more of the same from happening down the road.
Speaking of making change, today is also National Voter Registration Day, which is serendipitously combined with Constitution Day. In that spirit, since June 2024, North Carolina Black Alliance has knocked on 100,000 doors across the state and engaged in 33,000 conversations with residents to either get them to register to vote or encourage those already positioned for the upcoming election to follow through with actual participation. If you’ve registered to vote, then nudge others who aren’t to follow your example because knowing better means doing better. To make an even greater impact, make a voting plan, research candidates and ensure you are ready to cast an informed vote that aligns with your values and the future you want to see.
Resource
- Check out this Advance Notice episode on National Voter Registration Day.