A panel addressed a wide range of possibilities that may be used to disenfranchise and inhibit citizens from voting at the polls in the upcoming election.

On July 22 proposals were presented at a nonpartisan panel discussion sponsored by the YWCA’s Downtown office of Racial Diversity and Inclusion on how to prevent those potential problems from arising near or on Election Day.

“Anything that prohibits the vote of the public should be challenged,” said Tim Stevens, a panel participant and founder and chairman of the Black Political Empowerment Project.  “Anytime the government starts discussing new policies for voting, it should raise a red flag for society.”

Stevens was part of a five-member panel composed of Celeste Taylor, B-PEP and Everybody Vote; David Brown, Tribune-Review; Sophie Masloff, former Pittsburgh mayor; and Pamela Irwin, ACLU of Pennsylvania. Chris Moore, WQED; was the emcee. There were 25 to 30 people in attendance.

An audience member shared an instance that took place at a particular poll, where poll workers there sent registered voters away because they were wearing Obama T-shirts. As a result, those Obama supporters did not get to vote. He suggested a more thorough and extensive training for poll workers.

“The election department must begin scheduling these more thorough trainings earlier in the year— like now. We cannot afford for people to be giving out bad information,” Stevens said.

Panelist Irwin explained the dilemma citizens face in not knowing their voting rights. If either party— the poll workers or Obama supporters—were aware of the right to wear anything they choose, there would have been a completely different outcome, she said.

“No one is allowed to deny you the right to vote because of your partisan beliefs or any beliefs,” Irwin said.

The panelists stressed the importance of educating young people in order to protect the future of democracy. Stevens concurred by saying, “(Americans) must remain intergenerational in our efforts in getting people to vote and in our ability to change things.”

Prior to Election Day, the League of Young Voters will be visiting the Allegheny County Jail, registering inmates to vote. Many people were unaware of the rights of the previously incarcerated, Irwin said.  A lot of people think they can’t vote because they have felonies, Steven said.  

Panelists explained that as long as you are not in a correctional institution with a felony you are eligible to register to vote. That means, if you are incarcerated for a misdemeanor, or out on parole or probation, with the exclusion of being a resident of a halfway house, you have the right to vote, Irwin said. Those incarcerated with misdemeanors, must simply use an absentee ballot, Irwin said.

“We don’t want the most vulnerable to be disenfranchised because they are vulnerable,” said panelist Celeste Taylor. “We must be vigilant and persistent in helping each other.”

“Voting polls are not updated,” expressed a woman in the audience.  “Schools and places have closed or relocated and so people may show up to polls that no longer exist.”

The panel proposed posting huge signs at the closed polls prior to Election Day.

“League of Women Voters should have the most up-to-date info on polling places,” said a representative of the League of Women Voters present in the audience.  

One person asked about those who are undereducated on the issues, the candidates and how the voting machines work.  

Panelists responded by telling the audience to contact public officials, and visit websites like smartvoter.com that allows candidates to give more in depth descriptions on their views of issues, and everybodyvote.com which is a “one-stop-shop” on local and national voting information. It also gives you a demo of how the voting machines work and how to properly use them, they said.  

All those present during the discussion agreed that this Nov. 4 is going to be a historical day due to the unprecedented number of people registering to vote.  

“We are witnessing one of the most powerful moments in the history of the United States,” Stevens said. “If elected, Obama will be the youngest and first Black president, and McCain, the oldest first-term president.”

Voting is one of the most fundamental civil rights in America, exercise the right to vote, the panelists stressed.

For more information on ORDI or the voting discussion, visit www.ywcapgh.org.