Your vote is a powerful decision and it impacts not only your community, but the state, country, and world. Wisconsin is key this November and Earl Ingram, host of The Earl Ingram Show, asked “Souls to the Polls” Director Reverend Greg Lewis to discuss the history of voting, the importance of your ballot, and why this is the time to value your role in the 2024 election.

“Man, we are the most important people in the world right now,” Earl Ingram says. “And this is the time when we should express ourselves and really make decisions about who we want to represent us in our public offices.”

“Absolutely, Earl,” Reverend Greg Lewis responds. “And we have to make sure we understand and know the dates and times and places so we can cast our vote.”

Casting a vote is the goal for Lewis and his community-based nonprofit, “Souls to the Polls.” It includes more than 300 faith leaders working together across Wisconsin to create awareness around voting, getting a ride to the polls, even leading rallies to bring back drop boxes for election ballots.

We have to make sure people understand there are very important votes ahead, and I’m not just talking about people of color being aware. I’m talking about people of every color. Black, white, red, yellow, brown. We can’t have all of these people ignoring the fact there is a vote coming, and it’s probably the most important vote of their lives.

Souls to the Polls Director Reverend Greg Lewis

The organization started in the Milwaukee area in 2011 after a meeting revealed a lot of questions about the right to vote.

“We grew up at a time when for our parents and grandparents, nothing was more important than voting,” Lewis says. “It didn’t matter where they had to go or what time, they knew the value and power of their vote even if there was an effort to keep people of color from voting.”

“There wasn’t a question about whether or not you were going to vote or your neighbor was going to vote,” Ingram says. “The church made sure, and everybody else made sure, and it turned into a voter rally.”

“People in the black community voted, and if you didn’t you were ostracized,” Lewis recalls. “Now, I’m trying to get people to understand and recognize this today, including leaders of the Democratic party.”

The conversation between Ingram and Lewis moves on to the current generation, and how many people have been led to believe your vote doesn’t matter.

“Listen, it doesn’t matter who you are, how rich or poor you are, what you own, if you run a business,” Lewis explains. “It doesn’t matter if you’re homeless on the street. Your vote is the equalizer. And yet we forget to realize the power you hold in your vote.”

“The manipulation of getting people to believe their vote doesn’t matter is very real,” Ingram responds. “Now we’re to the point where they’re literally taking everything away. Maybe we’ve made the mistake of not continuing to hold those elected accountable. The people who are supposed to look out for our interests.”

One of those interests includes the ability to be able to put your ballot in a secure drop box. It is an easier option for people with disabilities, who don’t have transportation, are elderly, or are underserved.

“And you know what? We’ve got a problem just letting people know there’s a vote,” Lewis says. “There’s a vote in August and there’s a vote in November. We have to make sure people understand there are very important votes ahead, and I’m not just talking about people of color being aware. I’m talking about people of every color. Black, white, red, yellow, brown. We can’t have all of these people ignoring the fact there is a vote coming, and it’s probably the most important vote of their lives.”