FRIARS POINT—After beginning her efforts in June to help increase voter registration in Clarksdale with elections coming up in November, Cassandra Wilson recognized there was still work yet to be done.
Wilson helped approximately 20 new voters register in Clarksdale by holding a registration drive with forms at the old Harvest Foods parking lot on DeSoto Avenue. She then went to the Legion Hut in Lula and the fire station in Friars Point last week where she helped a handful of voters register at each place.
Mostly young voters registered in Clarksdale, but it was different in Lula and Friars Point.
“In Lula, it was not quite young voters,” Wilson said. “They were mid-age.
“I think the difference was because in most of the towns, similar to Lula and Friars Point, they’re mostly older community towns – people who have been staying there for quite some time or over time. I think Clarksdale just has a younger population.”
Wilson said her plan is to reach out to all the other small communities in Coahoma County by calling city halls and talking with the mayors. She hopes to have another registration drive in Clarksdale, possibly at Walmart.
She said only African-Americans have approached her about registering to vote in the different communities, but her goal going forward is to involve all races.
“The purpose of me doing it is I try to make it as easily accessible to anybody and everybody,” Wilson said. “I feel like when I set it up and I’m in different communities, I feel like it should be an open thing for anybody that comes. I don’t know why it’s mainly been African-Americans coming registering to vote.”
Wilson said she plans to reach out to all of the local high schools – public and private – and help first-time voters register. She added she is not sure if she will be able to speak with students due to the coronavrius pandemic, but her plan is to leave registration forms.
“I think you just make it readily accessible and go to a place where they don’t have to look far because it’s a lot,” Wilson said. “If you go, how many people are actually going to go out to the courthouse, get the form unless they just want to?”
She said she plans to put together summaries of each candidate for the upcoming elections to help educate voters throughout the community.
Wilson said some individuals feel their vote does not matter because they are disengaged from the process and they will not be able to make a difference in the outcome.
“You encourage them by telling them just look at how many people are registered to vote now. Just think if we get more people registered to vote,” Wilson said. “You never know how, if everybody is registered to vote, how that may determines who wins and who does not win.”
Another myth Wilson said she hears often is that convicted felons cannot vote. She said, depending on the type of crime they committed and how long ago it occurred, they may be able to get their voting rights restored. She encouraged convicted felons to contact the Coahoma County Circuit Clerk’s office to find out what their rights are.
Wilson is attempting to encourage voters by passing water, face mask, hand sanitizer and snacks during the registration drives.
Anyone interested in registering to vote may contact Wilson at 662-313-8528.
