Hey there! When it’s time to vote, most people head to a library or school, right? Well, in Mecklenburg County, they’ve got a cool alternative during the early voting period. You can cast your ballot at Steele Creek Martial Arts! How awesome is that? Located next to the Aldi on South Tryon Street, this place is making voting a whole new experience. The Mecklenburg County Board of Elections reached out to Derrius Cain, the instructor of Steele Creek Martial Arts, and asked if they could use his space. And guess what? He said yes! Taekwondo has been Cain’s passion for 25 years, and now he’s using his dojo to help people exercise their right to vote.
Cain started out just like his students, dreaming of becoming a Power Ranger and learning how to throw punches and kicks. But now, he’s teaching his students more than just martial arts. They’re learning how to elect people to serve on boards! This is a whole new experience for Cain and his students, but they’re embracing it.
The Steele Creek Martial Arts studio is the perfect location for early voting. It’s well-lit, secure, and has plenty of parking. These are the things election officials look for when choosing a voting site. Normally, the space is used for after-school activities, but for now, everything has been moved to the main area to make room for voting.
Cain believes that Taekwondo is about more than just physical skills. It’s about learning life lessons like perseverance and discipline. And now, his students can add another lesson to the list: the importance of participating in democracy. They’re getting a taste of the voting experience early on, which will prepare them for when they’re old enough to vote for real. Who knows, maybe one of them will even become the next governor!
Steele Creek Martial Arts isn’t the only unique early voting location in Mecklenburg County. They’ve got a former Rite Aid in Ballantyne, a former Kohls in University City, and even a former Chicken Salad Chick in Uptown. Talk about creative voting spots!
So, if you’re in Mecklenburg County and it’s time to vote, why not head over to Steele Creek Martial Arts? You’ll get to exercise your right to vote in a cool and unique setting. Plus, you might even pick up a few martial arts moves while you’re at it. Now that’s what I call a win-win!