“Voting While Black: Why Access Still Isn’t Equal”

Black people fought for the right to vote. Bled for it. Died for it. But even now in 2025, just getting to the ballot box is a struggle in many Black communities.

We may not face literacy tests anymore — but voter suppression is alive and well. It’s just wearing new clothes.

📍 Fewer Polling Places = Longer Lines in Black Communities

Black neighborhoods are more likely to have:

• Fewer polling locations

• Longer wait times (up to 6x longer)

• Old voting machines

• Less staffing

That’s not random.It’s voter suppression by design.

🪪 Voter ID Laws Hit Us Harder

Strict voter ID laws sound harmless — until you realize:

• Black voters are less likely to have government-issued ID due to transportation, fees, or DMV access

• These laws often pop up in states with rising Black voter turnout

They’re not about security. They’re about control.

🗺️ Gerrymandering: The Silent Vote Killer

When district lines are drawn to dilute Black votes that’s gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is when politicians redraw voting district maps in weird, twisted shapes to control who has power instead of letting voters decide. They pack as many Black voters into one district to limit their influence elsewher OR split them across many districts so their votes get drowned out

The goal? To keep certain parties or people in power and dilute the voices of Black and Brown communities

🔥 But Still We Rise

Despite every barrier, Black voter turnout continues to shake tables:

• Georgia 2020- Black voters helped turn Georgia blue for the first time in a presidential race since 1992 — and elected two Democratic U.S. Senators.

• North Carolina midterms- In 2022, strong Black voter turnout made key races razor-close — proving again that our votes shift the balance.

• Ferguson, Missouri after Mike Brown- After years of low turnout, Black residents organized, voted, and took over the city council putting new leadership in place after the 2014 police killing of Michael Brown.

We are the swing vote. The moral voice. The force they can’t silence.

Voting while Black shouldn’t be a fight but it still is. And that’s why we can’t afford to sit out or stay quiet. We have the power. We just need to keep using it — and protect it.

🗂️ Related Read: How Local Elections Impact Black Communities

📌 Coming Soon: WOKE’s Voter Survival Guide: NC Edition