Recently, the NAACP El Paso Branch #6175 hosted a highly impactful Voter Community Turnout Forum to invigorate voter participation in our community. The forum featured a diverse group of distinguished panelists from various community-oriented organizations, including representatives from LULAC, the League of Women Voters, the El Paso County Elections Information and Resources Coordinator, Casey Thomas—the Texas NAACP Vice President & State Political Action Chair, and the El Paso College Fellows Program Coordinator. As the Political Action Chair for the El Paso NAACP, I had the privilege of meeting these passionate advocates who each brought invaluable perspectives to our collective mission: increasing voter turnout.
One of the critical issues that struck a chord with me during this forum was the imperative need not just to register voters, but to ensure they turn out at the polls. Registering voters is only the first step; motivating them to exercise their right to vote is the real challenge. This sentiment was echoed by many of the panelists and attendees. Casey Thomas emphasized that voting should become a habitual practice, a point that resonated deeply with me. If we instill the habit of voting, we can significantly impact our community and make sure every voice is heard. When people understand that their opinions matter and their votes count, it fosters a sense of civic duty and engagement, and each vote becomes a crucial part of our democratic process.
