Voting | Cascade Publishing House

Princess Leia and Darth Vader

Will the Empire Strike Back?

In my new book, Fantasy Five (Cascade Publishing House, Atlanta, 2024), about the 1975 election of the first five Black members of the Macon, Georgia city council, I also recount the historic campaign of Rev. Julius C. Hope, a Black Baptist preacher, who made a landmark run for the Macon mayor’s office during the summer of 1975. He did not win but shared an axiom with his audience at every campaign rally. He offered up the adage, “Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.” read more

Atlanta’s Moment of Decision

Reed A Strong Candidate for Atlanta Mayor

Kasim Reed, the son of a courageous civil rights worker, has a strong chin and a personality to match. People either love his matter of fact-ness, or they loath it. With Kasim, you know on which side of the issue he stands. He is for an idea, or he is against it. One thing is sure, his steadfastness, once locked in, is unmovable. read more

Rebecca King Just Woke Up Atlanta Mayor’s Race

Buckhead Activist Tosses Hat in the Ring

Eighteen days before qualifying starts in the 2021 race for Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, Buckhead activist Rebecca King woke up the heretofore dull mayoral contest. King, the Chief Executive Officer of Cover Your Assets, an insurance documentation business, announced she is entering the campaign to become the next mayor of Atlanta. read more

The Nation Moaned “Come On Georgia” — She Groaned and Stepped It Up Historically

The nation moaned and groaned, “Come on Georgia.” It became a rallying cry in the Senate runoff races because the outcome of the Georgia contest to seat two senators in the US Congress not only impacted the State of Georgia, but it also had national and international implications as well.

And boy, oh boy, did Georgia come through. She elected two senators on the same ballot for the first time in the history of the constitution. In 2018, Minnesota came close to achieving this feat when it held a special election to select a class two senator ( Tina Smith- Democratic-Farmer-Labor) on the same day that the General Election chose the level one senator (Amy Klobuchar-D). read more

Religious Fervor Portends Huge Black and Brown Voter Turnout in Georgia Senate Run-off

One day before the US Senate run-off in Georgia and the Democrats have the “Big Mo.” Momentum is on their side. In what is expected to be two close races to determine who will represent Georgia in the Senate and which political party will control the upper chamber, turns on which party can generate enough excitement to turn their supporters out. read more

Kenosha Sets Stage for November Election

Last month the sports world stopped business as usual for a moment to contemplate the latest Black life disregarded by a white police officer, following the shooting of Jacob Blake in the back by a Kenosha, Wisconsin cop. It seems each police encounter is more gruesome than the previous one.

I applaud NBA players who sat out a couple of games to protest this wave of police brutality that is sweeping the country. read more

You Are the Generation We Have Been Waiting On to Continue the Fight

By: Floyd L. Griffin Guest Blogger

Back in the 1950s, when I was coming of age, walking the streets of Milledgeville, Georgia, there were only two named generations. My parents’ generation which we now call the “Greatest Generation,” and mine.

Many members of the “Greatest Generation” were born in the” roaring 20s.” They endured the hardship of the “Great Depression,” a time when millions of Americans were out of work and struggled daily to put food on the table. read more

John Lewis is Riding with Joe Biden: ‘I’ll Do Everything in my power.’

Congressman John Lewis (D) Georgia, the last surviving speaker from the 1963 March on Washington, gave the nod to former Vice President Joe Biden in the upcoming Georgia Presidential Preference Primary.

The Georgia primary was initially scheduled for March 24 but was pushed back to May 19, 2020, due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Lewis’ announcement made it clear that he is riding with Biden clear into the November General Election. read more

Here is Why Louisiana and Georgia Should Not Have Suspended Elections

In response to the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world, the states of Louisiana and Georgia have suspended their primaries slated for this month. Lousiana moved its primary back to April 4, and Georgia moved its primary election day to May.

Is it necessary to suspend election dates in light of the risk of people to people transmission of the Covid-19 virus? read more

I Voted for Biden and Here Is Why I Did

The Georgia Presidential Preference Primary slated for March 24, 2020, in my home state. However, Georgia is among a few political subdivisions that have an early vote process where voters can cast their ballot before the scheduled Primary or General Election date.

I like early voting because the lines are usually shorter. I can get in and out in fifteen minutes or less. However, in the 2008 General Election, when Barack Obama was on the ballot for the first time, I stood in line about three and one-half hour to cast my historic vote. read more