SUWANEE, Ga. — It's heard every election season: Your voice is your vote.
The saying is a reminder that behind every vote is real a person with a reason to cast their ballot.
Candidates are spending money on polling and staff to try to decipher the Georgia electorate.
But nothing beats a face-to-face conversation.
Meet Gerald 'Boo' Mitchell, a football coach and youth league administrator
Mitchell is the president of the Gwinnett Football League. He's also a substitute teacher and a football coach.
"I tell people that all the time: I do this for the kids," said Mitchell. "Because thank God when I was growing up there were people that were out there doing things like I what I'm doing and that's what allowed me to be successful."
Issues he cares about
Cost of living
Mitchell said one of the major issues that will impact his vote is the economy.
"When I'm paying $4 or $5 for a bag of potato chips, I mean, I'm hopeful that it'll go back down to at least $2," he said. "I think something has to be done about that."
World affairs
Mitchell explained he's worried about conflict around the globe.
"I'm scared to death that my kids would have to live through a war," said the coach.
"Obviously, we want peace," he continued.
Mitchell's take on this 2024 election season:
His biggest worry?
"Memories of the last election," Mitchell said. "I feel like it split the country in half. Or maybe even in thirds or more than that."
Despite that, he draws inspiration from the kids he coaches.
"I'm optimistic about the generation that's coming behind us," he said. "I see more kids nowadays just out there playing together . . . I'm a substitute teacher here in Gwinnett and I see kids of all races and ages and whatnot just walking down the hall talking."
"I like to see color becoming less of a thing and everybody just kind of together," he added. "I feel good about that."
Watch our Voice of the Voter segment during The Georgia Vote Sundays at 11 a.m. on WXIA.