The Primary Is Where Power Begins: Why Black Kansans Cannot Afford to Sit This Election Out

For too long, we've been told that the elections that matter happen in November.

But the truth is, many of the decisions that shape our future are influenced long before the general election arrives.

The primary election is where agendas are set. It is where priorities emerge. It is where the people who will shape our schools, neighborhoods, courts, and communities are often determined.

And yet, election after election, turnout remains painfully low.

In communities across Kansas, primary elections regularly see participation rates that leave most voters on the sidelines while a small fraction of the population helps determine the direction of public policy for everyone else.

When we do not participate, we surrender influence.

When we stay home, others decide.

And when turnout is low, every single vote carries even greater weight.

This Year's Primary Hits Different

On August 4, Kansans will do more than cast ballots in a routine election.

Voters will also weigh in on a constitutional amendment that could reshape how Kansas Supreme Court justices are selected.

The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled on issues affecting education, voting rights, civil liberties, healthcare, and government accountability.

These are not abstract legal questions.

These are decisions that impact our families, our communities, and future generations.

This election is an opportunity for every eligible voter to have a voice in a conversation that will shape the future of our state.

What Black Kansas History Teaches Us

Black Kansans have never waited for power to be handed to us.

The Exodusters who settled Nicodemus and other Black communities came to Kansas seeking more than freedom. They came seeking self-determination.

They understood that political participation was connected to economic opportunity, educational advancement, and community stability.

Generation after generation, Black Kansans organized churches, built businesses, founded newspapers, challenged injustice, and demanded representation.

That legacy calls us to action today.

The vote is not the only tool for creating change.

But it remains one of the most powerful tools available to ordinary people seeking extraordinary outcomes.

What's at Stake

Every election affects:

• The quality of public education

• Access to economic opportunity

• Criminal justice policies

• Healthcare decisions

• Housing and neighborhood investment

• The fairness and accessibility of our democratic systems

  
  

These issues do not arrive in our communities by accident.

They are shaped by decisions made by elected officials and public institutions.

Participation is how we influence those decisions.

Building Black Power Through Civic Engagement

At the Kansas Black Leadership Council, we believe civic engagement is about more than voting.

It is about building collective power.

Through Black Legislative Day, The Black Agenda, our Leadership Brunch Series, and #BlackVotesMatterKS, we are working to ensure Black Kansans have the information, resources, and opportunities necessary to participate fully in our democracy.

We believe our communities deserve representation.

We believe our voices deserve to be heard.

And we believe our future is too important to leave in someone else's hands.

A Call to Action

The question is not whether decisions will be made.

The question is whether we will help make them.

Register if you need to register.

Verify your voter information.

Make a plan to vote.

Talk to your family.

Remind your friends.

Bring someone with you to the polls.

Our ancestors fought for access.

Our responsibility is to use it.

On August 4, let's honor their legacy by showing up for our future.

Before you leave this page, do these three things:

✅ Visit KansasBLC.org/vote

✅ Check your voter registration

✅ Share this article with three people who need the reminder

Knowledge is power.Participation is power.

Building Black Power starts with all of us.