Linda Davis says voting is rooted in identity and community

Linda Davis said voting is more than a civic duty. It is a reflection of identity, history and community. 

Davis is the Clarke County Board of Education District 3 representative and Athens native. She said voting is a priority in her community to rebuild a sense of purpose and unity. 

“Voting has to be a thing that doesn’t happen with elections,” Davis said. “It has to be a thing that comes from the root of who you are, what you want and what is the pathway to get there.”

Her enduring ties to her community and churches are at the root of how and why she votes. She said the churches were historically the center of communication for her community, but younger generations are not experiencing that same influence. 

That shift may explain why some groups of voters are less engaged than older generations. 

https://www.datawrapper.de/_/f7FfX/

https://www.datawrapper.de/_/2TbSY/

“We're relying on the grandparents and the great-grandparents to help children understand those cultural things that lead us to where we need to be,” Davis said.

Davis is politically focused on economic instability, homelessness and legislation changes affecting government grants and benefits. She said homelessness is going to increase, and her biggest fear is that people will not be resilient enough to bounce back from new changes. 

Davis said there is a lack of knowledge from both voters and legislators of what the community needs. As she steps away from the school board this year, she plans to raise awareness of current issues.

In terms of choosing a political party, she stays neutral. 

“I live in that world that allows me to stay focused on the issue at hand and who can best solve that issue, versus a loyalty to a party that may have grown away from me,” Davis said.