OPINION: Girl Scouts get out the vote, despite COVID challenges

Meridith Maskara is the CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater New York. Photo courtesy of Girl Scouts of Greater NY

By Meridith Maskara 

For six weeks this fall, Girl Scouts across New York City called, sent texts and postcards, and hosted video chats with trusted adults in their circles to talk about something crucial: the upcoming election. 

They’ve reached out to make sure people are registered, and if not, showed them how they can complete that process.  

They’re helping them find their poll site and teaching them about all the different ways people can cast a ballot in New York this year--either in person on Election Day, during early voting, or via absentee ballot. Girl Scouts have successfully connected with more than 4,000 New Yorkers to make a voting plan for this election. 

This is all a part of the 2020 Voter Promoter campaign that Girl Scouts of Greater New York devised as a way to get girls civically engaged this fall. While the majority of our girls aren’t of voting age yet, we knew that they take participation in our democracy seriously, and would step up to make sure the voters in their lives had no excuse not to cast a ballot this year. 

This year’s election holds particular significance as we continue to celebrate the centennial of the 19th Amendment’s ratification, extending the right to vote to millions of women across the country. Just a couple of months ago, Girl Scouts celebrated with the rest of New York City the unveiling of the first statue of real women in Central Park, honoring suffragist heroes Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Local Girl Scouts did their part to make the statue possible by donating cookie money and raising awareness for the effort. 

While right now it’s easy to feel pessimistic about what the future will bring, I know there are brighter days ahead. The girls who I have the honor of working with every day ARE the future of our city. And if anything has given me hope over these last few months, it has been them. “Voter Promoters” today; voters tomorrow; leaders always. We are in good hands. 

Meridith Maskara is the CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater New York.