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Contributed commentary by Donald Ward Jr., Chair of Communications, Clarksville NAACP:
If one were to conduct an inmate search on the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office website, depending on the day, you would find a few to several citizens who have been arrested for driving on a suspended or revoked licenses. Or maybe you’ve been arrested or know someone that’s been arrested for that very reason. Ever wondered why? Well, the answer is simple. Because of your vote, or lack thereof.
“How so?” one may ask. Our elected Tennessee state legislators, along with locally elected officials, determine whether an act is criminal or not, and what the punishment is for each offense. Yep, our state reps and senators amend, create and revise our laws for each and every facet of our lives. From where alcoholic beverages can be sold to whether or not we go to jail for driving violations and for how long; and certainly not least of all, how it’s going to affect our pockets.
In Clarksville-Montgomery County, we receive voter registration cards after we have registered to vote. Those cards contain the districts and wards in which each individual lives along with our voting location and other vital information. If you’ve ever wondered why we go to jail for driving on suspended or revoked licenses, it’s because of the people that we voted for (or failed to vote for), that represent those districts and wards printed on the cards.
So, if you feel that you and your fellow citizens shouldn’t go to jail for driving on suspended or revoked licenses, vote. If you feel that the punishment for driving on suspended or revoked licenses is too lenient, vote.
Donald Ward Jr.