Sept. 25, 2024 (Eatonville, Florida) – A group of concerned citizens gathered last week at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church to hear from voting advocates who shared their experiences over the years and specific issues that will be on the Nov. 5 General Election ballot.

About 70 people showed up for the gathering, sponsored by the church, which was held to educate members so they can make choices according to the beliefs in their hearts, according to Macedonia’s Pastor Willie C Barnes. Organizers plan another meeting Oct. 15 to review state amendments that will be on the ballot.

This is a Presidential Election year and it has been a remarkable election season, to say the least: President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed his Vice President, Kamala Harris, for the job. Harris, who could become the first woman to be elected P.O.T.U.S., is in a tight race against former President Donald Trump, who was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records, becoming the first former president in U.S. history to be convicted of a felony, according to reports. Here in Florida and Orange County, key races include U.S. Senator, State Attorney and Supervisor of Elections.

At the gathering, several speakers took turns talking about the importance of voting, how to register to vote, various ways to vote and where to research candidates and issues. Afterwards, they took questions from people in the audience.

Grace Lias, of the League of Women Voters of Orange County, started out and spoke from the perspective of the league, a non-partisan organization which has been around for more than 100 years. “We don’t endorse any party or candidate,” she said. “We do make recommendations on amendments.”

She said during her many years with the league she has talked with people about registering to vote and voting she has often heard, ‘I am not political.’

“I don’t know what that means so I often ask, what is important to you or what do you care about?”

She pointed out several hot issues: Social Security (for those near or at retirement age), Homeowner Insurance (rising costs), Education (book banning), Gun Violence (now the #1 cause of death of children and teenagers in the United States) and Healthcare (pre-existing conditions currently covered under the Affordable Care Act).

“We vote to choose the people who make the rules,” Lias said. “That’s what elections are for…Participate, don’t be a bystander.”

She ended by asking audience members to make a plan to vote (early Oct. 21- Nov. 3, by vote-by-mail ballot or on election day), check their voting status with the elections office to make sure they are not inactive or removed from rolls and vote after doing the research.

Byron Green, Chief Deputy of Elections for the Orange County elections office, reviewed recent changes at the office in an effort to get more people out to vote. He got audience members to participate by quizzing them on key dates: Oct. 24 – Last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot and Oct. 7 – Last day to register to vote (by 6 p.m. at the elections office and 11:59 p.m. online). Before the registration deadline is also a good time to update your address and signature, he said.

Completed vote-by-mail ballots can be mailed to the elections office and must be received before 7 p.m. on election day. If you requested a vote-by-mail ballot and for some reason you decide to vote early, you can drop off your completed ballot to the elections office or at any early voting location, Green said.

There are four pages to the General Election ballot, which includes national, state and local races, six state amendments, 10 county charter amendments and one referendum (on whether or not continue the one-half cent School Sales Surtax).

Larry Colleton, President of the Orange County Chapter of the Florida Voters League, closed out with a historical viewpoint of elections and what Black people especially in the South went through to vote. He talked about Project 2025 and how the plan, initiated by the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, undermines the progress made during and after the Civil Rights movement. Colleton pointed out of few highlights of the plan, including the call to eliminate the Department of Education and to re-classify federal employees as “at will” workers. A significant number of Black people over the years worked and still work in those positions, he said.

Overall, the voting gathering was very informative, one attendee said, adding she wanted to learn more about the amendments.

Here are some resources to prepare yourself to vote: Macedonia, http://www.ocfelections.com and http://www.vote411.org. You can also call the elections office if you have questions: (407) 836-2070.