Georgia Votes: Maxwell

Thirteen-time Grammy-nominated musician Maxwell, discusses voter suppression, systemic racism, and the organizations he’s partnered with to ignite change.

“I can’t overstate how important the Georgia Senate Runoffs are. We need to take those two senate seats so we can pass policy that is so desperately needed for marginalized communities in our country. I’m exhausted with the systemic racism that still plagues Black, brown, and indigenous people. I’m very focused on [the] Black Lives Matter [movement]; It’s a constant issue for anyone my age, and across [all] generations. We need to end racism now, and move towards being the melting pot that America promised. Other key social justice issues we need to [push] for include equal pay for women, a living wage, and equal opportunity so that everyone has a fighting chance.

“I want Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff to win in Georgia because we can begin to address [major] issues with a Democratic majority in congress. I’m from New York City, so it’s not in my hands, but I can make a few calls and nag the fuck out of anyone who is able to vote there! We all have to raise our voice and do what we can to get [everyone] out to vote in Georgia. Your vote is your voice. The more you use your voice, the more beautiful it will sound when you see your vote working for you. Black people have tried to use their voices to vote to no avail in the past, silenced through voter suppression, but we can take action and change that. 

“There are some important organizations that are working to make it impossible for your vote to be suppressed. I’ve been working with a nonprofit organization, Plus1Vote. They have tirelessly extended an incredible opportunity to voters to offer free rides to the polls during the last presidential election and are now partnering with Uber to provide free rides for the current Georgia senate runoffs. I’ve also worked with IC2020, aka influence Change 2020, which facilitated a #ThankYouGA and #LiveFromGA Instagram live marathon. I had the opportunity to speak with Felicia Davis from the HBCU Green Fund; She has been leading work on the ground with other Black women in Georgia, and I was honored to speak with her and give her the platform she deserves. 

“2020 was the game changer due to the pandemic. This year was about survival and showed how much impact our representatives have on our lives. You need to make sure your local representatives are pushing issues that matter to you, and more importantly to your community. We have to [get out and] vote to make sure our officials are not there to fatten their own pockets as we pay taxes for their cushy lives. We need to leave a better world for the young [generation] that will one day take the wheel when their time has come.” 

Election Day

If you’d like to vote in-person for this election, just make sure you’re registered and plan out your Election Day plan so you have the time to go and vote on January 5th, 2021. Find your local polling station here, and remember how important it is to exercise your right to vote!

Need a ride to the polls? Plus1Vote is partnering with Uber to provide free rides for the current Georgia senate runoffs! You can use the voucher code “VoteGA”  for a free ride on January 5th! Available here.

 

Absentee Voting

You can also vote absentee for the Georgia Senate runoff.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot was December 15th.

To do so you can complete this application online (you’ll need your county, state ID number, birth date, and legal name). You can also fill out this PDF and return it to your county board of registrars via mail or email.

Absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, January 5. You can also drop off your ballot at an official county drop box up until 7 p.m. on Election Day. Check your county’s election website for details and dropbox locations.

For more information, head to Plus1Vote for all of your voter questions.

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