The Voting Experience
Council member Dickens chronicles his voting experience
Voting plays an invaluable role in our American political system. Whether it’s a vote for president or local boards and commissions, casting a ballot shapes the futures of cities, states, and the country.
With the 2020 general election coming up, this series will offer a look at the voting experiences for members of the Atlanta City Council.
Next in our series is Post 3 At-Large Council member Andre Dickens, who said he recognized early on that voting was important, particularly being from the home of the civil rights movement.
“I was acutely aware growing up in this city that there was a whole political value system that we had, which we took seriously,” Dickens said about being an Atlanta native. “It was engrained in my head that you want to make sure that you are a part of solutions, that your voice is heard, that you have ownership in this city, and that you better show up when your time is called.”
He added that his mom was also a driving force behind his motivation to vote.
“I have a mom that plays no games. She’s very serious about voting, very serious about everything actually — voting being one of them. My mom would require me to vote if nobody else required me to vote.”
His first-time voting took place at Georgia Tech during the 1992 general election.
“I went along with a few other students who were friends of mine. We had been talking about it for the whole week leading up to it because we were all freshman and it was our first-time becoming voters. So, we went down to the student center at the ball room and there were voting booths there and we waited in line with the rest of the students.”
He noted it’s encouraging to continue seeing young people engaged in the process, and hopes they’ll remain connected to government and politics not only through dialogue, but also by going to vote.
“This is a critical time. Young folks have a lot on their minds and a lot to say just about everything in society. So, I think that they ought to take that energy and continue to speak on it, but also to vote.”
