Flashpoint: Non-voters 2020 — who are they, and why do they opt out? Former Philly DA Seth Williams; Urban League of Philadelphia

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PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — This weekend on Flashpoint, host Cherri Gregg asks the burning questions about non-voters in Pennsylvania and beyond.

In 2016, 41% of eligible voters, or nearly 100 million Americans, did not vote in the general election. Why do so many Americans opt of our democracy? Who are these individuals? How does their decision not to engage impact politics?

We look at the 100 Million Project, a survery of 12,000 non-voters, released earlier this year by the Knight Foundation, as well as a recent poll of young Black Philadelphians, as a backdrop on this discussion of non-voters.

Evette Alexander, director of learning and impact for the Knight Foundation, and Bishop Dwayne Royster, interim executive director of POWER, provide expertise on this topic.

Former Philadelphia district attorney Seth Williams talks to KYW Newsradio about how his life changed following a bribery scandal and prison sentence.
Former Philadelphia district attorney Seth Williams talks to KYW Newsradio about how his life changed following a bribery scandal and prison sentence. Photo credit Cherri Gregg/KYW Newsradio

Our newsmaker of the week is Seth Williams. In this encore presentation of an interview heard first on KYW Newsradio, Philadelphia’s former district attorney discusses his transformation while serving three years in federal prison. In 2017, Williams pleaded guilty to bribery. Currently under federal supervision, he is out of house arrest and working to rebuild his life.

Finally, the Patriot Home Care Changemaker of the week is Urban League of Philadelphia. The advocacy organization works for economic equality and has worked with the School District of Philadelphia on programs that help eliminate the digital divide, deal with food insecurity among students and more. The Urban League also launched #ReclaimYourVote. CEO Andrea Custis is our guest.

Flashpoint airs every Saturday at 9:30 p.m. and Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on 1060AM. It also airs at 5 a.m. Sundays on B101FM and WPHT 1210AM, at 6 a.m. on WOGL 98.1 and TDY 96.5 and 6:30a.m. on  94.1 WIP.

Subscribe to the Flashpoint Podcast on the RADIO.COM app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get podcasts by searching "Flashpoint."

Featured Image Photo Credit: Courtesy of Bishop Dewayne Royce and the Knight Foundation