A small group of Island activists staged a get-out-the vote rally at Five Corners in Vineyard Haven Saturday afternoon, urging Islanders to register, and go to the polls on Nov. 3 — or before.
Saturday was the last day to register to vote in Massachusetts for the Nov. 3 election. Early voting continues through Friday; polls are open in every Island town.
On a gray, chilly day Saturday, demonstrators held signs that said “Your Vote, Your Future,” and “Your Vote = Hope.”
Drivers passing through the busy intersection honked their support.
“I want people to exercise their right to vote if they are of age. I really do feel like our vote is our voice and if we don’t vote that’s one less voice being used,” said Lisette Williams, one of the organizers of the event.
Organizers had put up fliers around the Island with QR codes for registration. Registration papers were being handed out at Five Corners too.
“If anybody is unable to attend and they have a smartphone to scan the QR code, it will take them to rockthevote.com where they can register,” Ms. Williams said.
One of the key organizers is not old enough to vote. Graysen Kirk, a student at the regional high school, has been at the forefront of other rallies on the Vineyard this summer, including one at Five Corners in early June following the death of George Floyd that drew hundreds of demonstrators.
Ms. Kirk said she was inspired to promote voter registration after hearing the recent speeches of leaders throughout the country. “Voting is the only thing we can do in our power,” she said. “So I feel like it’s really important to vote, especially in this election because a lot of people are on the fence so they don’t vote. The problem with that is not voting is being silent and silence is compliance.”
About 15 people joined the rally.
“One person is enough to make it a successful event,” Ms. Kirkson said. “Getting somebody to vote is helping contribute to the greater good. Even if not a lot of people drop by, they’ll see it and think, today is the last day to register to vote, and maybe they’ll go on their phones tonight and register.”
Kathy Laskowski and Kristi Strahler from the Martha’s Vineyard League of Women Voters also attended the rally. The league has been a visible presence during the election run-up this year, as part of a voter registration drive on the 100th anniversary of women being granted the right to vote.
“It’s really nice to have active young people,” Ms. Laskowski said.
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