Podcast Summary
A journalist and attorney's exploration of voting in America: Journalist and attorney Erin Geiger Smith delves into the history and current state of voting in America, highlighting the importance of addressing voter suppression, increasing education and accessibility, and encouraging younger generations to participate.
Erin Geiger Smith, a journalist and attorney, has written a book called "Thank You for Voting" that explores the history and current state of voting in the United States. Smith's career path led her to this topic after working as a lawyer and journalist, and being deeply affected by the 2016 election. She was struck by the low voter turnout, especially among young people, and felt compelled to learn more and contribute to the conversation around voting. The media's coverage of the election also sparked her interest in understanding more about the electoral college, polling, and the history of voting rights. Smith's innovative ideas for improving voting include addressing voter suppression, increasing education and accessibility, and encouraging younger generations to participate. Overall, her book sheds light on the importance of voting and the ongoing efforts to make it fair and accessible for all Americans.
From researcher to author: A passion-driven journey in journalism: Following your interests and passions can lead to creating valuable content and making a difference in people's lives.
Passion and dedication can turn a side project into a full-fledged obsession and ultimately lead to creating valuable content for others. The speaker, who started as a researcher for a book on voting, became so engrossed in the topic that she ended up taking over the project and writing it herself. This passion for learning and sharing knowledge is the essence of journalism, and it's inspiring to see how far one can go when they follow their interests. The title of the book, "Thank You for Voting," came from early research on the effectiveness of mailers in encouraging people to vote. Even though some of these mailers were controversial, the idea of expressing gratitude to voters resonated and became the foundation for the book.
The Long Road to Voting Rights in America: From women's suffrage to the Voting Rights Act, American history shows the importance of advocacy and progress in expanding voting rights, but also the need to guard against efforts to restrict access.
The right to vote in the United States did not come easily or quickly for everyone. The history of voting rights in America is marked by progress followed by setbacks, with many groups facing significant barriers to gaining the right to vote. From the founding of the country, not everyone was allowed to vote, and it took generations of activism and advocacy to expand voting rights to include women, black Americans, and other marginalized groups. The journey to women's suffrage, for example, spanned over 70 years, with the first major women's rights convention in 1848 and the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. Along the way, various tactics were used to suppress voting rights, such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses, which disproportionately affected certain communities. Understanding this history helps us appreciate the significance of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the ongoing importance of protecting and expanding access to the ballot.
The Long Road to Social Change: Social change requires persistence, various tactics, and determination, often facing opposition, and can take decades to achieve
Societal change, such as the women's rights movement leading to women's suffrage, takes a long time and requires persistent effort. It involves various tactics, including legal arguments, protests, and lobbying, and often faces opposition. Change may not be welcomed by everyone at the time, but those who push for it must remain determined and adapt to new circumstances. The women's suffrage movement, which began with small gatherings and evolved into mass protests and hunger strikes, took several decades before the amendment was passed in 1920. It's essential to understand this historical context when observing current social movements and their pursuit of change.
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Addressing obstacles to improve voter turnout: States with easier registration and voting policies have higher turnout rates. Engaging with local politicians and advocating for such policies can help increase voter participation.
Voter turnout in the United States can be improved by addressing various obstacles that prevent people from casting their ballots. These obstacles can include outdated machinery, insufficient polling places, and residency requirements that make it difficult for people to register to vote in their new state. For instance, someone might miss an election due to a 30-day residency requirement and lack of access to necessary documents like a lease. Additionally, young people and certain racial groups often face challenges in voting, particularly in local elections. States with policies like automatic voter registration, same-day registration, and no-excuse mail-in voting tend to have higher turnout rates. To encourage better voter turnout, individuals can engage with their local politicians and advocate for policies that make it easier for people to vote. Ultimately, understanding the factors that influence voter turnout and advocating for change can help ensure that more Americans have a voice in the democratic process.
Individual actions impact voter turnout: Encourage friends, family, and colleagues to vote by sharing registration deadlines, early voting periods, and resources like TurboVote. Inform them about the importance of local elections and their impact on daily life. Engage in local elections, especially for minority parties, to increase representation and competition.
Individual actions have a significant impact on voter turnout. Minnesota, with its encouraging voter registration processes and high voter turnout, serves as a positive example. However, states with longer registration periods and limited access to early voting struggle to encourage participation. Local elections, which significantly impact our daily lives, often face low voter turnout due to a belief that one's vote doesn't matter. To change this, it's essential to inform friends, family, and colleagues about voter registration deadlines, early voting periods, and resources like TurboVote. By understanding what issues are important to others, we can help them see the value of their vote and the impact local officials have on those issues. Encouraging participation in local elections, especially for minority parties, can lead to more competitive races and increased representation. Ultimately, every vote matters, and by engaging others, we can make a difference.
Small actions can make a big difference: Encouraging voting, supporting ethical brands, and promoting flexibility can lead to significant impact on personal and community level.
Making a difference, whether it's in your personal life or in your community, can start with small actions. This was a recurring theme in the discussion, whether it was about encouraging friends and family to vote, taking advantage of flexible health insurance plans, or supporting ethical and affordable brands. Another important topic was the role corporations can play in promoting voter registration and participation. It was emphasized that this could be done in a simple and nonpartisan way, with minimal cost and employee time. By taking small steps, such as sending reminders or organizing voting drives, companies and individuals can have a significant impact on turnout. Additionally, the discussion highlighted the importance of flexibility, whether it's in yoga, insurance, or work arrangements. Overall, the message was that every action counts, and small steps can lead to big changes.
Encouraging children to vote: Teaching children about voting, making it a fun experience, and involving them in the process can encourage them to value and protect this fundamental right for themselves and others.
Making voting a fun and expected cultural behavior can encourage more people to participate. This can be achieved by teaching the process to children, making it a learning experience, and creating events or traditions around it. For example, voting parties or even sausage sizzles at polling stations have been effective in Australia. Voting is a learned behavior, and parents and caregivers play a crucial role in passing it down to the next generation. By taking children to vote, explaining the importance and history of it, and making it a habit, we can help ensure that they value and protect this fundamental right for themselves and others. Additionally, involving children in the process, such as helping them register and explaining local elections, can make it an exciting and engaging experience.
Making Voting Accessible for Younger Generations: Encourage younger generations to vote by planning, educating, and making the process accessible. Demystify the experience, bridge the age gap, and start the conversation early.
Encouraging younger generations to vote requires planning, education, and accessibility. The speaker shared her experience helping her college-aged son navigate the voting process, emphasizing the importance of having a clear voting plan. She also highlighted the need to demystify the voting experience for younger generations and bridge the age gap between voters. The speaker expressed the importance of not blaming young voters for not participating but rather taking responsibility as older generations to teach and support them. She concluded by sharing her experience bringing her young daughter to vote with her and emphasizing the importance of starting the conversation about voting from a young age. Overall, the conversation underscored the importance of making voting accessible, convenient, and demystified for all ages.
The Importance of Voting and Media in Democracy: Encourage voting from a young age, recognize media biases, ask questions, and strive for media objectivity to foster an informed and active democracy.
Engaging in the voting process, especially from a young age, is crucial for understanding its importance and ensuring accuracy in the information we receive about it. The role of media in promoting voting and providing accurate information is significant, but it's essential to recognize potential weaknesses, such as partisanship and the need for transparency in sources. Encouraging curiosity and asking questions, whether about Batman or election mechanics, can help demystify the process and make it less intimidating. By teaching the importance of voting and being informed, we can foster a culture of active participation in our democracy. Additionally, media outlets should strive for objectivity, clarity, and transparency to help readers navigate the complex political landscape and make informed decisions.
Supporting Independent Creators: Engage with independent creators by following, subscribing, rating, reviewing, and sharing their content to help grow their reach and success
Key takeaway from this episode of the Sharon Says So podcast is the importance of supporting independent creators. Sharon expressed her gratitude to her listeners for their engagement with her podcast, The Sharon Says So, and asked for their help in growing its reach. She requested listeners to follow, subscribe, rate, or review the podcast, and even share it on social media. These actions can significantly impact the visibility and success of independent podcasts. By engaging in these simple yet impactful ways, listeners can contribute to the continued creation and growth of content that resonates with them. So, if you've enjoyed an episode, consider taking a moment to support the creator. It goes a long way!
