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A not-so-hidden electorate could swing Ohio, if only it voted
MS NOW • • nation
Key Points:
- Many young Black men in Ohio, like Dwight Bullard, are disengaged from voting, citing a lack of visible change and political outreach as key reasons for their apathy.
- A significant number of eligible Black voters in Ohio—over 600,000—did not vote in the 2022 midterms, a figure that far exceeds the margin of victory in key races, highlighting a critical gap in voter mobilization.
- Efforts to engage these voters, such as those by Cleveland VOTES, focus on community-building and addressing local issues rather than immediate electioneering, aiming to connect policy impacts to everyday life.
- The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation and other activists emphasize the need for politicians to understand and address the specific concerns of young Black voters, who often feel disconnected from political processes and rhetoric.
- Despite some campaign efforts, including outreach by Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, many young Black voters report receiving little to no contact from political campaigns, underscoring a missed opportunity in a pivotal swing state.
