Members of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus held Man’s Day at the state Capitol on Thursday.
The purpose of Man’s Day was to encourage men to vote and be active participants in their communities. Lawmakers also reminded attendees of the Feb. 1 voter registration deadline to participate in Georgia’s March 1 primary.
"Our hope is that men go back to their communities with information that they can use yesterday," said Rep. Sharon Beasley-Teague, D-Red Oak. "The real deal is for them to have information on what's going on in this session and what's going to touch their community."
Lawmakers educated attendees on how to register to vote and verify if they are active in the voter system. They also encouraged their constituents to research upcoming legislation that could affect them before heading to the polls in November.
"It is important that you learn how you can affect the process from a bill becoming an idea to becoming a law," said Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta. "We even want to promote and facilitate bills being made, laws being made or stop bad laws from being made."
Fort used Senate Bill 133 and Senate Resolution 287, also known as Opportunity School District, as examples of legislation that could be unclear to voters. Opportunity School District would be a statewide school district with authority to seize control of "failing schools."
“Given something with the name ‘Opportunity’ people will think, when they go to the ballot, that it will help their children,” said Beasley-Teague. “There’s no accountability to what the outcome of the Opportunity School District will look like.”
Gov. Nathan Deal signed SB 133 and SR 287 last legislative session. Voters will have the chance to vote on Opportunity School District in the November election.
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