We cannot allow fear to dictate who votes this fall

Election season is in full swing, and Ramsey County is ready. Our elections team is working to ensure every eligible voter can cast their ballot safely, securely, and accessibly. More than 113,000 voters participated in the primary, including a record number of absentee voters for a non-presidential primary. That level of engagement sends a clear message: our community is paying attention, showing up, and protecting our democracy.

But this moment comes with real challenges. As our community continues to recover from the federal occupation during Operation Metro Surge, many residents have legitimate concerns about whether they can safely exercise their right to vote. That fear is painfully familiar to the history of our country.

Growing up in Mississippi, my mother and aunt taught me that voting is not something to take for granted – and to never forget those who fought and even died so that I wouldn’t have to endure what they did. Black communities in the South once faced poll taxes, intimidation, violence, and other deliberate efforts to keep us from the ballot box. A generation of people refused to accept that reality. They organized, marched, and fought until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 became law.

Today, we are once again confronting efforts to undermine access to the ballot and sow fear around our elections. We cannot be intimidated into surrendering. We cannot allow fear to dictate who participates in our democracy.

After Operation Metro Surge, many of our neighbors worried about federal interference in our local elections. Those concerns were not hyperbole. They were real. So is our responsibility to respond. Every one of us has a role to play – knowing our voting rights, helping neighbors understand their voting options, sharing accurate information, and making sure fear and misinformation do not keep anyone from the ballot box.

The work did not end after the August primary elections. We should expect continued attempts to disrupt and undermine the election process, and Ramsey County will remain vigilant. We will continue educating residents about their rights, expanding access to trusted information, and doing everything within our authority to ensure our elections remain welcoming, safe, secure, and transparent.

That starts with Ramsey County hosting its first ever Election Office Hours on Sept. 10, where residents can hear directly from the county elections team about our preparations and get answers to their questions. Residents who are interested can register at: https://www.ramseycountymn.gov/residents/elections-voting/voter-outreach-education/elections-qa-sessions. 

We have faced fear before, and we have overcome it before. We will not be intimidated. We will show up, stand together, and protect the rights of every eligible voter to make their voice heard. Our democracy is strongest when we refuse to surrender it – and I remain hopeful because I know this community will continue to show up for one another and for the future we are building together.
Reach Garrison McMurtrey at garrison.mcmurtrey@ramseycountymn.gov.