All of us have found ourselves in the voting booth somewhat confused about just who that candidate is on our ballot.
Some of the candidates we know.
But if we’re honest with ourselves, there are some we’re not familiar with when it comes to the little circle beside a candidate’s name, so we just ink in a name on the ballot and hope for the best.
“Now more than ever, we recognize that knowledge is the foundation of meaningful civic engagement,” Georgeanna Pinckney, founder and chief executive officer of Greater Life of Fayetteville, said in a news release.
It’s why Pinckney wants you to know about the Nonpartisan Voter Education Workshop, an event scheduled from 6–7:30 p.m. on September 17 at Greater Life of Fayetteville, 600 Orange St. It is being presented, according to the release, in partnership with the Fayetteville branch of the NAACP.
Crystal Edmonds, the Fayetteville NAACP political action chair, will lead the workshop. Register online for the event.
The workshop is for everybody and offers information for helping all of us with nonpartisan information and resources to understand the voting process. The idea behind the workshop is to help all of us make informed voting decisions and participate with confidence in the electoral process at the local, state and national levels.
Edmonds will be cramming plenty of information into the event.
Topics, according to the release, will include voter rights, and why every vote counts; the voting process and what you should know before heading to the polls; voter registration and deadlines; absentee voting and how to vote by mail; information about early voting and Election Day voting; identification requirements required for voting; ways to become more engaged in the community; and how the local election affects public safety, neighborhoods, and public schools.
Local Races to Watch
Voter apathy is something of a problem in Cumberland County. Truth be told, a lot of folks are turned off by politics. But for those planning to vote, in-person early voting is October 15-31, and the general election is November 3.
Locally, there is interest in two seats up for grabs on the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners. Four candidates—two Democrats and two Republicans—all face each other for the two at-large, county-wide seats. The top two vote-getters win. The Democratic candidates are incumbent Veronica Jones and former Commissioner Charles Evans, while the Republicans are Greg West and previous candidate Ron Ross. There also is an election in District 1, which has two seats. The candidates for that election, Sheila Cuffee and Commissioner Glenn Adams, are unopposed.
There’s a passing interest in the county sheriff’s race between Democrat Troy McDuffie and perennial candidate LaRue Windham, a Republican.
And the race for the Cumberland County Board of Education is anybody’s guess with 16 candidates bidding for three at-large seats. Among them are incumbent Jacqueline Brown and challengers Franklin Crockett, Robyn Chadwick, Keith Byrd, Christopher Young, Bradley Williams, Rebecca West, Renee Ward, Carol Stubbs, Demetrius Stocks, Broxie Pone, Bryan Moore, Theodore Miller, Quincei Lovejoy, Johnathaun Lee, and Tom Hatch.
Epilogue
Nothing is worse than standing in the cubicle with your ballot and wondering just “who is who” among the candidates.
You’ll likely know some.
Chances are likely, too, you won’t know them all.
“Our goal is to ensure that community members have access to accurate information and educational resources from a nonpartisan standpoint,” Pinckney said, “that will empower them to make informed decisions and become better equipped to advocate for the issues that matter most.”
Your vote matters, Pinckney said. Make it count.
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
