Kentuckians will got to the polls again on Nov. 3, 2026. (Austin Anthony for The Kentucky Lantern)
It was an early November day, cold and snowy. My father, Walter, was 85 and recovering from cataract surgery gone bad. He did the things an 85-year-old did – he read his newspaper daily despite an 8th grade education, told WWII stories, and doted on his grandchildren. But there was one more thing he did on that cold, snowy November morning.
Moving slowly with a patch securely over his left eye, he sat down at the dining room table as I arrived.
“Daddy, it’s time to go vote,” I said.
“I don’t think I can this time,” he replied.
His answer was not unexpected but shocking nonetheless. I pondered for the longest moment and came up with this: “if you don’t vote, daddy, your guys won’t win”! He looked at me for a moment with a look of deep concern and a sudden sense of urgency. Slowly, he rose from his chair and headed toward the door. As if there was never a moment of hesitation, he walked past me at the door with these words, “What are you waiting for?”
Looking back, it was a teaching moment that voting was something the weather or a bad eye could not stop. It was that important. We are reminded that democracy is sustained not only by historic figures and grand speeches, it is the stuff of ordinary people who put on their coats, learn about the candidates and the issues, and go vote.
In honor of people like my dad and the most sacred rite of freedom, voting, The League of Women Voters of Lexington, Global Lex, and CivicLex are launching “Make Democracy Social,” and “Celebrate Democracy,” a two-part, nonpartisan voter engagement initiative, designed to help Fayette County residents become informed voters, make a plan to vote, and build community around civic participation.
The initiative, launched this September, will provide a toolkit where information instructs on how to conduct and host Democracy Potlucks. The potlucks will feature community forums where citizens gather to make democracy social with a meal and conversation. Community groups, churches, neighborhood associations, clubs, workplaces, language communities and friend groups are encouraged to consider hosting a Democracy Potluck before early voting begins. Sponsoring organizations will provide nonpartisan resources to help people research what is on their ballot, understand the offices being elected, and make a voting plan.
Following these activities, all will be invited to Democracy Celebration opportunities where voters gather after voting to celebrate community participation.
Visit www.lwvlexington.com for more information and look out for League of Women Voters of Lexington, Global Lex, CivicLex, and partner organizations out in the community throughout the fall.
Let’s remember that our fundamental freedoms were the result of sparks of passion and the act of voting that underpins our most basic freedoms. They include freedom to worship as you wish and separation of church and state, freedom of speech to voice opposing opinions and enjoy a free press, due process and the right to counsel sparked by one man who spoke up and demanded representation in our courts (Gideon vs. Wainright, 1963).
Let us remember that our most fundamental right to speak up and vote lay at the root of all our freedoms. The many battles throughout American history were ones of expanding the right to vote through many means including constitutional amendments that afforded voting status without discrimination regardless of gender, race, and age.
Let’s honor the legacy of those who have gone before us. Voting is not something my dad did when convenient, when weather cooperated, or when he felt particularly inspired. It was a part of being a citizen and fighting hard every day to be informed and go vote. It is the act that not only preserves democracy but something we should celebrate. Let’s celebrate democracy together!
Courtesy of Kentucky Lantern
