Kerry Washington urges everyone to stay powerful by voting. Your voice matters—don’t miss your chance.
Kerry Washington is urging hesitant Americans to vote this November and not “give up their power.”
Kerry Washington is urging Americans thinking of skipping the November election to get involved and not “give up their power.”
Emmy-nominated Scandal star Kerry Washington appeared on MSNBC’s Sunday special, Black Women in America: The Road to 2024, where she stressed the importance of political involvement as the presidential election approaches. Hosted by The Weekend co-host Symone Sanders-Townsend and legal analyst Melissa Murray, Washington was one of the well-known figures engaging in open discussions leading up to this pivotal election.
“Politics affects everything—where you drive, what you wear, what you eat, how your kids are educated, whether you can afford healthcare, and whether you have access to abortion,” Washington explained.
“So to say I’m not going to vote, I understand the feeling, I understand the frustration, but I just don’t want people to let go and give up their power.”
In the in-depth special, Sanders-Townsend and Murray spoke with a variety of Black women, including young voters and suburban women, to discuss their perspectives leading up to this crucial election. The conversations focused on what presidential candidates can do to address their concerns.
At the start of the year, many young voters felt discouraged about the 2024 election. A fall 2023 poll from the Harvard Kennedy School revealed their lower enthusiasm for voting compared to 2020, when a record number of young voters were key in electing President Joe Biden.
These feelings extend beyond Gen Z, with many American voters feeling disconnected from both parties and their candidates. While Washington recognizes the “frustration” many are feeling, she encourages voters not to let that stop them from using their power at the polls.
“I get it. I get the level of frustration. I really understand it, because it is true.”
“It can feel like the system isn’t working for us, but that’s because many of us have been led to believe our vote doesn’t matter,” Washington explained. “We need to change our mindset, step up, and make our voices heard so the system works for us.”
She added, “I know it’s frustrating and difficult. We’re all busy with families and jobs, but civic engagement is important. Even if you choose not to vote, it still impacts you.”
The special covered topics like reproductive rights, young voters’ willingness to engage after President Biden’s exit from the Democratic ticket, diversity in Congress, and the economy.
