RALEIGH, NC (WTVD) – Shauna Harris plans to vote in honor of her late grandmother, Louise Hemingway, who came from the South and often witnessed discriminatory voting practices that kept African Americans away from the polls.

For her, it was important to show Harris why it was necessary to vote.

“I sat in the back seat with her and drove people to the polls, young and old,” Harris said. “She said you have to know what this means for the people who didn’t have a chance to vote.”

Grandma Louise died in 2015, but her granddaughter is carrying her torch by leading people to the polls. There are many issues on the ballot that Harris believes are crucial.

“Health care, equal pay and making sure we sit at the table and talk about these issues because it’s important,” she said.

Harris is one of hundreds of women from across the state attending the North Carolina Council for Women’s state conference, which aimed to advance equality and justice in plenary sessions. Speakers included Governor Cooper and a White House official.

“One of the things that resonated with me was doing something,” said participant Laura Kuicin. “I work at a university and students say, ‘Oh, I’m not sure I’m going to vote. We can’t be careless about that.'”

Women typically register to vote more often than men, making them a strong voting bloc.

Jenice Ramirez Garvin is a mother and former high school teacher who lives in Greensboro. She said education is most important to her this November.

“Teacher salaries. I’m talking about investing in quality education. It’s also important to make sure all schools are fully funded,” she said.

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