‘A Vote Is a Kind of Prayer’: Sen. Raphael Warnock Joins ‘Wake Up With Dee’ on Election Day

On Election Day morning, Georgia U.S. Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock joined host Dr. Dee Dawkins-Haigler on the Wake Up With Dee Morning Show on News & Talk WAOK to deliver an urgent message to voters across the state: your presence at the ballot box determines the future.

Warnock emphasized that while politicians' names appear on the ballot, the real stakes lie with the people.

“Your name is on the ballot,” Warnock told listeners. “Your children, your aging parents who have to decide many of them between prescription drugs and food, your retirement is on the ballot, your ability to afford groceries and gas—that’s what’s on the ballot today.”

Staying the Course Through the Finish Line

Reflecting on early voter participation, Warnock noted that while turnout numbers have been encouraging, voters cannot afford to become complacent.

“I am nauseously optimistic,” Warnock said. “Because I’m aware of the ways in which we lose too often by the margins of our disengagement. We have to run all the way through the ticker tape, folks.”

He reminded voters that under Georgia law, anyone in line when polling places close has the legal right to cast their ballot. “If you are in line, know that you get to vote. Don’t get out of line—stay in line,” he urged.

Addressing concerns over election monitors and potential friction at the polls, Warnock noted that community members, legal teams, and clergy are mobilized across the state to protect access to the ballot. He stressed that the primary objective must always be facilitating, not intimidating, citizens exercising their constitutional rights.

Investing in HBCUs and Georgia Communities

During the broadcast, Dawkins-Haigler highlighted Warnock’s ongoing advocacy for higher education and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Warnock, a Morehouse College alumnus, pointed to recent federal investments, including approximately $100 million secured for STEM research at HBCUs, as well as billions directed toward institutions that have historically been underfunded.

“All of these schools really are a national treasure,” Warnock said. “They have been doing so much for so many, for so long, with so very little. ... These schools need and they deserve funding.”

He emphasized that expanding research capacity at institutions across Georgia allows them to compete at the highest academic and economic levels, strengthening local economies and career pathways for graduates.

A Call for Down-Ballot Engagement

Warnock also pressed listeners on the vital importance of participating in races all the way down the ticket, from federal and statewide offices to local and legislative contests. He pointed to the direct connection between state governance, district boundaries, voting access, and everyday community resources.

Closing with a reflection drawn from his role as senior pastor of Atlanta's historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, Warnock framed civic engagement as a moral responsibility.

“As I often say, a vote is a kind of prayer for the world we desire for ourselves and for our children,” Warnock shared. “This morning, I had a prayer call; we prayed with our lips, now it’s time to pray with our legs. Show up at the polls. Do it for our ancestors; do it for our children.”

Important Voting Hotlines & Resources

• Need a Ride to the Polls? Free transportation assistance is available by calling 877-524-VOTE (877-524-8683).
• Voter Intimidation or Voting Issues? If you experience or witness any voting irregularities or intimidation, report them immediately to the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).

Tune into the Wake Up With Dee Morning Show with Dr. Dee Dawkins-Haigler, Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM on News & Talk WAOK or stream live anytime on the Audacy app.