Every day, North St. Louis resident Monti Hill knocks on doors in the three wards that have the lowest voter turnout in the city – the 3rd, 4th and 22nd.
“We just want this to be a resident-led campaign,” Hill said. “We are really concerned, and we want to do more in our community.”
Hill and her crew are part of the WePower Better Budgets, Better Schools initiative that started six months ago. They are all North City residents. (There is also an East St. Louis group.)
“We are also Saint Louis Public School educators, students, alumni, parents, aunties and grandparents of students,” according to the group’s website. “As such, we care deeply about the city’s public education system and work together to improve it out of a place of love.”
They learned that a considerable number of people in these three wards are registered to vote, but they often don’t have the resources or support to get to the polls, Hill said.
“We can increase that,” Hill said.
Getting people to vote has become a way to engage people in the voting process while soliciting thoughts and concerns about the public schools.
When they talk to people, they ask them if they plan on voting. They explain that the polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 6 and ask if they know how to look up their polling location (visit Bit.ly/lookuppoll).
If they aren’t able vote on November 6, they provide the number to call the Board of Election Commissioners (314-622-3250 in the city, 314-615-1800 in the county) to ask about absentee voting, which is underway.
If they plan on going to the polls, they ask if they need a ride. If so, they provide the number for Souls to the Polls, which is 314-562-0411.
Hill’s team explains which forms of ID to take to the polls. You only need one of these: a voter registration card, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, Missouri driver or non-driver’s license, non-expired military ID, U.S. Passport, ID from a Missouri college or technical school. They also explain that no photo ID is required to cast a ballot, since a court ruling in early October. If voters are asked for a photo ID, Hill explains that they should call the election board (314-622-4800 in the city, 314-615-1800 in the county).
Also, voters who encounter problems at the polls can call the Missouri Election Protection Coalition hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683), which is part of a national effort.
Aside from voting information, they also let residents know about the Better Budget, Better Schools public hearing on why equitable school funding matters. It will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, November 14 at Central Print, 2624 N. 14th St. It’s free and open to the public with dinner provided. RSVP at bit.ly/bbbspublichearing.
Souls to the Polls
Mary Wheeler-Jones retired from her longtime post as Democrat director of the St. Louis election board in February. She didn’t get to rest long before the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis tapped her to direct their Souls to the Polls initiative. She dived into her role in September, by visiting numerous high schools, libraries and colleges to register people to vote.
Getting people out to vote is her passion, she said.
“From my past life, that was the most disturbing part,” Wheeler-Jones said. “We would do all these preparations to get ready for the election, and 20 percent or less of the people show up and we still have to do the same preparation if 100 percent of the people show up. This is our time to get the vote out.”
Back in those days, she would never fail to get the call that they ran out of stickers at the polls.
“Everyone wants their ‘I voted’ sticker,” Wheeler-Jones said. “That gave me the idea to create something that says, “I will vote” prior to the election.”
Michael McMillan, president and CEO of the local Urban League, loved the idea, she said. So they printed 1,000 “I will vote” buttons that she has been passing out wherever she goes. They are also located at the Urban League offices is anyone wants to stop by and get one, she said.
Wheeler-Jones is also directing the rides to the polls on election day. If anyone needs a ride to the polls, call 314-562-0411. If you’d like to volunteer to be a driver, call 314-348-2234.
Her main piece of advice to voters is to print and fill out a sample ballot.
“It would help the voters and everyone if they get a copy of the sample ballot,” she said. “For St. Louis County, it’s going to be the longest in history. So they can print out the ballot and have it all filled out. You can take your sample ballot in with you to the vote.”
For a sample ballot in the county, visit www.stlouisco.com/yourgovernment/elections and click on “Sample Ballot.” In the city, visit www.tinyurl.com/STL-sample-ballot. The Missouri Secretary of State also offers the chance to preview candidates and issues for most voting precincts at voteroutreach.sos.mo.gov. Your local election authority also should have a sample ballot to preview in the office.
