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What does the Black Detroit voter want this election?
From compelling data to heated conversations– there’s many responses about the issues at hand surrounding proposals and people up for election that’s keeping engaged citizens staying abreast this midterm season.
First-time voters and experienced voters alike are all chiming in for their votes (and voice) to be heard. With just days leading up to the Tuesday, November 8 election, though voters’ desires may differ, they all center around wanting to make Detroit and beyond a better place.
Some Black voters and politically involved locals chimed in and shared those very values and hopes for the midterm election, while others talked about the importance of democracy and how to practically get out the vote so all can benefit.
“Democracy is on the ballot. Our freedom and our fundamental rights are on the ballot,” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said during a recent voter rally in Detroit. “We need every single one of you … to ensure that democracy prevails. …Let’s get to work and tell everyone we know to vote for democracy.”
Redistricting Results
Due to the 2020 Census results, Michigan lost a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Beforehand, Michigan had 14 districts, now there are only 13 districts in the state. Metro Detroit is now primarily represented by the 12th and 13th Congressional Districts.
The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) approved new district boundaries for both the state Senate and state House of Representatives. The maps were codified into law in late March.
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib won in the 12th District; Shri Thanedar won the top Democratic spot for U.S. House Michigan District 13.
There has been general disapproval over MICRC’s move earlier this year, which many groups have publicly spoken out against as an unfair representation of Black Detroiters politically.
Community leader Alicia George told the Michigan Chronicle that there wasn’t enough done to educate voters on the redistricting process.
“I think people still think that certain people are still in their district because they don’t know,” she said. “And it’s changed. People then can make a wiser decision. It just can’t be a one-hit wonder (politician.)”
She added that when it comes to term limits of an elected official presiding in office, longer-term are where it’s at, especially in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Because there’s this constant switch out there’s no momentum,” she said adding that a more engaged voter would be a more active participant in the democratic process.
George said that with the current roster of candidates in the 12th and 13th districts, it should be more than “name recognition” that gets one elected.
“How can you relate to my needs when you haven’t even met me?” George said. “Why is it only at the time of election when you see these individuals (that may not look like you or know your needs) want to come down and find a strategic way of just simply putting my name out there over and over and over and over again so that the name recognition is there and buy my vote?”
Others disagree.
In a NY Times article, “Why a Black Democratic City Won’t Have a Black Democrat in the House,” a resident said change is not all bad and to give others a chance.
“Well, let’s go back years and years and years, and see that when we had those (Black leaders) people in office, they all didn’t meet up to what they said they met up to,” said Kimball Gaskinsel, a 58-year-old Black man.
When asked in the article about his opinion of Thanedar: “Let’s give the man a chance.”
George added that it’s time to remember the roots of voting in the Black community.
Black people as a people, were very proud when it came to voting. They would go hungry, or go to jail — and some even did more for the right to vote.
“We need to bring that back,” she said. “I think that pride needs to be brought back.”
Proposal 3
Proposal 3 would amend the state constitution to provide that every individual has a right to reproductive freedom, including the right to make and carry out pregnancy-related decisions such as those concerning prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, abortion, miscarriage management, and infertility care.
Former President Barack Obama shared his views on abortion rights recently at a Detroit rally in late October at Renaissance High School ahead of the 2022 midterm election.
“We should agree that women everywhere should be able to control what happens with their own bodies,” Obama said.
“(This proposal is a) wake-up call for a lot of women who might have taken Roe v. Wade for granted … we can go backward. We don’t always go forward,” he said.
George said that if the proposal passes it would be a “different world” for people.
“When we can’t even choose (we control our) body they would create a different type of world,” George said. “We have an opportunity to persevere from here. … We better wake up and make sure that that never gets on the ballot again, and so we need to learn from that.”
Beyond the Voting Booth
Described as a Freedom Fighter, Detroiter Jeremiah Wheeler, 26, told the Michigan Chronicle that this election is “high stakes” and more needs to be done.
“We still aren’t voting at a rate that we can vote,” he said, adding that the Black vote is “important.” “Voting is a tool. We have to use our tools accordingly. I don’t think that voting is the complete answer. But it’s a major necessary part of the answer. Voting doesn’t automatically give us better food on a day-to-day basis, but it makes sure that we have access to better grocery stores.”
Detroit resident DeVaughn Mason, 18, told the Michigan Chronicle, that as a first-time voter he is a little “nervous” but ready to do his duty.
“The main thing that I’m concerned about is the neighborhoods in Detroit. The potholes, abandoned houses — I feel we need to start making a better and safer environment for the newer generation by fixing and building back up the neighborhood and the main streets,” Mason said.
Stephanie Young, executive director of When We All Vote, WWAV, a non-profit, non-partisan, anti-voter suppression organization, told the Michigan Chronicle that WWAV attended an MTV early voter event at the Little Caesars Arena to encourage people to vote. The organization was founded by Michelle Obama.
“Early voting impacts everybody, every single community helps to increase participation,” Young said, adding that young people are stepping up already at the polls. “When you combine Gen z with millennials that voting power we outnumber baby boomers,” Young, a millennial, said. “We’re extremely powerful in numbers.
“There are a lot of issues young folks are paying attention to and care about,” she said. “That is an incredibly important part of that to make connections in voting.”
Matt Friedman, a spokesperson for Detroit Votes 2022, echoed similar thoughts and told the Michigan Chronicle that it’s essential that Detroiters understand the choices available to them which are broader than before, including early voting.
“We are making sure Detroiters understand the choices are available to them, which are much broader than they used to be,” Friedman said. “The Detroit Votes Campaign has been focused on increasing awareness among Detroiters about their voting options. There are more ways to vote than there used to be. That is part of that (of) a commitment from the city of Detroit’s Clerk office as an option to increase voting participation.”
Early voting options in Detroit include 13 satellite voting locations (“Early Vote Centers”) in neighborhoods across the city. There, Detroiters can receive, fill out, and securely submit their absentee ballots now through Election Day, in addition to the options of mailing their absentee ballots or submitting them through 20 security-monitored drop boxes, if they would like to vote early.
A full list of options and locations is available to Detroiters at detroitvotes.org.
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