Georgia Senate runoffs: why every vote counts

Brut America

"Why should I care so much about the Senate?"   Activists and artists are urging Georgians to participate in the runoff elections  — here's why their votes carry so much power.

Transcript

00:00Why is it important to have political power?

00:04Policy affects people.

00:06Some people might say, why should I care so much about the Senate?

00:10This is actually going to make a huge difference to the entire United States.

00:31We need to prove the world that the South has something to say on January 6th.

00:35Has something to say.

00:45You should vote because you matter.

00:47And you have power.

00:48And your power is going to transform.

00:50And so we're literally speaking to the highest and the best part of ourselves.

00:55That we know we have power.

00:58Not because the United States government gave us power.

01:00But that we were literally in the very creation of who we are.

01:04That we have power as a people.

01:06One of the biggest motivators for the work that we do.

01:09Is not just to make voting accessible.

01:11But to make the polling space and the electoral space.

01:15A space that our community can feel they can occupy.

01:17Depending on who wins this runoff.

01:25Is going to determine what the majority is going to be like in the Senate.

01:28So for the next at least two years under Joe Biden.

01:32It will determine what are the policy priorities going to be.

01:35When we talk about things like criminal justice reform.

01:37Or college affordability and student debt forgiveness.

01:40These are plans that the current president elect and vice president elect.

01:45Are saying they want to bring awareness to and change.

01:48But if they don't have a Senate that's willing to meet them where they are.

01:52Then these things will continue to be pretty much knocked down.

01:56And we won't really see change in this country for another four years.

01:59There are so many legislations that are pending in the Senate.

02:03That have passed the House already.

02:04But they are pending in the Senate.

02:06And this election is your opportunity to just let your voice be heard.

02:10Legislation like the John Lewis Voters Rights Act.

02:13Which requires that states that have a history of discrimination.

02:16It requires them to get federal approval.

02:18Before they make any laws that affect voting.

02:21Such as the George Floyd I Can't Breathe Act.

02:24Which basically it bans chokeholds.

02:27And then you also have the Heroes Act.

02:29Which has a lot of resources and benefits.

02:31That will impact the American people directly.

02:34Such as COVID relief.

02:35As well as child care.

02:41What's going on after these elections.

02:44Guess what's coming?

02:45Redistricting.

02:46We just answered the census.

02:47And then legislators are going to be drawing those maps.

02:52And guess what?

02:53We have to be as involved as we are when we're voting.

02:56We have to go to the Capitol.

02:57We have to talk to our representatives.

03:00Because if we don't.

03:01Those maps and those districts are not going to represent us.

03:05If you believe in our democracy.

03:06It's the small price you pay.

03:08Which is civic engagement and your civic duty of voting.

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