Georgia Senate Runoff 2021.
If you are a U.S. citizen of at least 17 and 1/2 years old you can register to vote and participate in the upcoming GA Senate Runoff Election. Click here to find out more information regarding your voter registration status and register to vote, poll locations, absentee ballot requests, and more.
What’s at stake? Here are some of the issues that concern most Americans.
1. Health Care
“The importance of maintaining or expanding access to affordable health care in the midst of a pandemic cannot be understated. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has played a crucial role in reducing disparities in access to health care and narrowed the uninsured rate among Black and Hispanic people compared to white people. Medicaid expansion has also been key to improving racial equity. Repealing the ACA, as President Trump has sought to do, would reverse these gains. In addition to restoring and expanding coverage under the ACA, President-Elect Biden has pledged to address health disparities and reinstate antidiscrimination protections (note: the Trump administration has further revoked ACA antidiscrimination and civil rights protections for LGBTQ people)” {Visit Source}.
2. Voter Rights Protection
The late civil rights icon, Congressman John Lewis, was a leader involved in the passing of the Voter Rights Act of 1965. Unfortunately, the current voter rights legislation named for John Lewis has been stalled in Congress with few Republicans supporting the bill. At the time, Senator Kamala Harris (now Vice President-Elect) has called on Congress to pass the updates to the law. The bill H.R. 7820 states, ” This bill designates November 3, 2020, as a legal public (i.e., national) holiday known as John Lewis Election Day. It also urges U.S. private employers to give their employees the day off on November 3, 2020, so they may cast votes in elections held on that day.” Now named the “Congressman John R. Lewis Election Day Act of 2020” sits at the senate level for review.
3.George Floyd Bill
Justice! Justice! Justice! Black. Lives. Matter. Policy changes in policing sits in the very hands of the people we elect to grant change. Bill H.R.7120 called, “George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020” addresses policies in policing and law enforcement accountability. It includes measures to increase accountability for law enforcement misconduct, to enhance transparency and data collection, and to eliminate discriminatory policing practices.
4. Student Loans Proposal
Due to the untamed COVID-19 pandemic, many college students have been dismissed from colleges and universities across the U.S. without or minimal tuition refunds. Frontline workers, as well as healthcare workers with mounds of student loan debts, are risking their lives in order to manage the essentials (including utilities, rent, mortgage, food, etc.) and contribute towards progress for humanity. Yelp! There are bills waiting to help Americans impacted by student loans and tuition reimbursement during the COVID pandemic. The Biden-Harris administration supports these efforts with proposals and plans to help Americans.
5. COVID-19 Relief
A concern for many Americans and across the globe, the handling of this pandemic as well as relief from the effects of COVID. COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to the economic relief or stimulus package to increased COVID management through testing and data collection are, unfortunately, important critical topics and bills at the congressional level yet to be passed. Congress is currently out on recess and shall reconvene on November 30th. In addition, the Biden-Harris administration have proposals and plans that impact COVID relief and data collection to include access to tests. However, the Trump’s administration lack of presidential concession impacts progress towards an action plan for the American people. Postponed ensurance of a smooth transition to the Biden-Harris administration of pertinent information and budget.
GEORGIA! America needs you to vote! There is so much at stake. Too much to include in one article. GEORGIA is on our minds and our hearts. A tribute to Ray Charles, “Georgia is on my mind.”
Thank you! Please, share and encourage others to participate in democracy and vote. Your. Vote. Count.
Mary L. Washington, PharmD
Voice Artist | Singer | Pharmacist