Voting Is Care: Why I’m Showing Up for Georgia’s Families This November
by Caitlin Smith, DIVE Activist
I was raised in Chicago, where care was communal and constant. Aunties who weren’t blood, cousins who shared more than holidays, neighbors who became lifelines. We looked out for each other—not because we had to, but because that’s what care looks like.
I moved to Atlanta for college and stayed after graduation. I carried that rhythm with me—hopeful, grounded, and ready to build. But it didn’t take long to see the cracks. The systems meant to support working families—especially caregivers—weren’t built to hold us. Rising costs. Limited paid leave. Public services that felt more like mazes than support. It became clear: communal resilience alone isn’t enough. We need structural change.
In the past two months, I’ve paid between $200 and $300 just to keep the lights on. That’s not just a bill—it’s a crossroads. Groceries or rent. Dignity or delay. And I’m not the only one standing at that intersection. Families across Georgia are making impossible choices every day.
Meanwhile, Georgia Power rate hikes keep climbing—fueled by projects like coal ash cleanup and the rapid expansion of data centers. These decisions aren’t abstract. They shape our monthly bills, our environmental future, and our ability to care for one another.
That’s why this election matters.
Early voting is underway now through October 31st. Election Day is November 4th. And after years of delays, Georgia’s Public Service Commission elections are finally happening. These commissioners decide how much we pay for electricity and whether our state invests in clean energy. Their choices ripple through every household—especially those already stretched thin.
So here’s what YOU CAN do:
- Make sure you’re registered to vote
- Check your early voting location
- Visit mvp.sos.ga.gov to confirm your info
I’m voting because care should never be a luxury. Because every kind of family—chosen, extended, immigrant, disabled, queer—deserves time, dignity, and support. Because when we invest in care, we don’t just survive—we bloom. We build abundance. We build Georgia.
I’m voting for the coworkers who’ve had to choose between a paycheck and a parent. For the friends juggling three jobs and still showing up with love. For the neighbors who’ve stepped in when systems stepped out. I’m voting because our stories matter. And our votes do too.
If you’re wondering whether your vote matters, let me say this: it does. Your story matters. Your family matters. And together, we can build systems that reflect that truth.
