Don’t squander precious right to vote—get people to polls

While over 40 percent of Americans neglected to vote, we have witnessed thousands of children separated from their families on the U.S.-Mexico border, a Muslim travel ban, the abandonment of numerous multi-national agreements that foster economic and diplomatic relationships, and a withdrawal from the Paris agreement on addressing climate change.

On August 4, this community can engage in the political process by attending “People to the Polls,” a new event hosted by Young Progressives Demanding Action (YPDA) and consisting of a march from Ala Moana Beach Park to the Hawaiʻi State Capitol. Participants will be able to attend the free event to register to vote and partake in early voting. A variety of advocacy and community organizations, such as the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, will be present to educate the public about their issues.

“‘People to the Polls’ is an opportunity to show the public that civic participation in the democratic process can be fun and engaging,” said Will Caron, Social Justice Action Committee chair for YPDA and lead organizer for the event. “When we come together to share an afternoon of food, fun and entertainment as a community, we can make democratic participation feel like a natural part of life in the islands.”

I hope to see my community with me on August 4 to take charge of our own futures and hold our elected representatives accountable. It starts with exercising the precious, hard-won right to vote. Let’s not waste that right.