Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
Even though Sunday early voting was eliminated in at least 20 North Carolina counties this year, faith-based and grassroots civic coalitions across the state mobilized by the thousands last weekend. From traditional church caravans to broad interfaith marches, the statewide push aimed to bolster turnout heading into the final stretch of early voting before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Statewide, more than 340,000 Black voters had already cast ballots as of Oct. 25, part of over 1.6 million total early votes recorded. At that same point during the 2022 midterms, only 1.04 million North Carolinians participated in early voting, and registered Black voter turnout stood at just 42 percent—the lowest mark since 2010. Organizers across the state anticipate turnout will climb significantly this cycle.
In Greensboro, the final Sunday of early voting was met with sweeping grassroots action. The Black Action March: Souls to the Polls was co -sponsored by the Greensboro Branch of the NAACP and the Pulpit Forum of Greensboro and Vicinity. Pastor Greg Drumwright, president of the Pulpit Forum and pastor of Citadel Church and Campus Ministries said, “The synergy and energy of yesterday’s turnout proves how critical of a political climate we are in right now.”
The march to Barber Park drew large groups of marchers from all walks of life and it rallied people of many faith traditions to exercise their right to vote immediately following Sunday morning worship services.
A multicultural coalition of 23 interfaith, civic, and civil rights groups joined forces for a major “Unity Walk to the Polls.” The afternoon event kicked off at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer on East Friendly Avenue with performances by the Community Gospel Choir, the Grimsley High School Blue Steel Drumline, and giant butterfly puppets from Paperhand Puppet Intervention, alongside remarks honoring new Americans preparing to cast ballots for the first time.
“This is an unprecedented effort and show of unity in support of the change our community needs,” said the Rev. Steve Tate, co-leader of the Greensboro Interfaith Immigrant Justice Coalition.
Participants then marched nearly a mile to the early voting site at the Old Guilford County Courthouse on West Market Street, where the Raging Grannies and Singing Resistance performed, nonpartisan groups hosted resource tables, and first-time and unregistered voters completed same-day registration at the polls.
“We often focus on different issues,” said Maria Rosales, executive director of FaithAction International, which helped spearhead the walk. “But we know that voting is one crucial way to make our community stronger. Supporting each other in solidarity, because all our issues are related, is what this walk is about.”
Similar mobilizations energized people throughout the state. In Wilmington, The North Carolina Association of Educators partnered with the New Hanover County NAACP to host a “Souls to the Polls” event at St. Luke AME Zion Church, where congregants wore red shirts, voted at a nearby early voting site, and shared a fellowship meal.
In Durham, St. Joseph AME Church held “Social Justice Sunday,” organizing a massive motorcade and walking caravan to the polling site on the campus of North Carolina Central University. “We have a huge caravan of people from our church, from our community, from neighboring churches where we worship together,” the Rev. Dr. Abdue Knox, pastor of St. Joseph’s, told ABC-11 News.
In Mecklenburg County, faith leaders staged coordinated “Souls to the Polls” rallies on Saturday. Additional voting caravans and marches were held across Alamance, Forsyth, Johnston, Rowan, and Wake countiesSunday, Oct. 25, was the final Sunday of early voting across North Carolina. The early voting period concludes statewide on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 3 p.m.
Voters who have not cast ballots early can vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls statewide will remain open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Voters must present acceptable photo identification at check-in. All completed civilian absentee mail-in ballots must arrive at county board of elections offices by 5 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3.
