Souls go to the polls to vote early

Dozens of people enjoyed free food and entertainment while getting to know local and state candidates running in the Florida Primary Election during a Souls to the Polls event held Sunday in Gainesville.

Charlie Crist, a former Republican governor of Florida who is running as a Democrat in the gubernatorial race this year, attended the event as well as a slew of other candidates who will be on the ballot running for local, state and national offices.

The event was held near the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office, 515 N. Main St., in an effort to motivate people to vote early in the upcoming midterm elections.

The first two days early voting, Saturday and Sunday, saw 893 voters cast ballots in the seven early locations throughout Alachua County, with 479 of those votes being cast at the elections office, said Aaron Klein, director of communications and outreach for the Supervisor of Elections Office.

There is no available information about how many voters cast ballots at the elections office during the Souls to the Polls event, but early voting has run smoothly through Monday morning, Klein said.

"We've had no significant hiccups," Klein said. "We're very happy with the way things are going, and we're very happy with opening of the Newberry early voting site. Things are going very well."

Karl Anderson, senior pastor at Upper Room Ministries, said the event has been going on for over 15 years to encourage people to vote early and be informed voters.

"This is a part of Black culture, to encourage churchgoers to go out and vote after church," Anderson said. "They can talk to candidates, get entertainment and free Sunday dinners."

Souls to the Polls in Gainesville was organized and sponsored by a partnership between Florida for All, Black Voters Matter, 98.9 Jamz FM and the Alachua County chapter of the NAACP.

Each candidate in attendance was given three minutes to talk about their platform.

"If we want to make a change, you got to be the change," Crist said.

Crist talked about serving with civil rights icon John Lewis in Congress and reminded the audience how important their vote was.

Crist served as Florida governor from 2007 to 2011 and has served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Florida's 13th congressional district since 2017.

"Your vote is so precious that it's sacred," Crist said.

Those attending the event were encouraged to be informed voters and to ask their family members and friends to vote

"Your vote is your voice," said Desmon Duncan-Walker, the District 1 commissioner on the Gainesville City Commission. "After you vote, bring three more people to come out and vote, too. Be an informed voter. Stop by every booth to talk to the candidates."

Paris Winningham of NBC's "The Voice" performed during the event.

Winningham, who finished in the top three of last season's competition, sings a variety of adult contemporary, R&B, country and gospel music.

The Florida Fellowship Super Choir and local hip-hop artists performed as well.

"I'm very interested in what the candidates have to say," said Heather Chatmon, who attended the event. "This is also a family friendly event where they can enjoy themselves today."

Chatmon said voting is important because politicians can create or overturn laws that can affect you directly. She is a mother of four girls and one of her girls was raped and got an abortion before Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in June.

"Events like Souls to the Polls are important because we can see who's out there for our women and our children and to see who's the best candidate," Chatmon said.

Alice Hayes said she has been attending the event for many years.

Hayes said she is a former poll worker and that she worked at the elections office for about 24 years.

"I've been voting for many years because the people before me have not been able to vote and they made a sacrifice for us to exercise our right to vote," Hayes said.

Hayes said the event helps to create informed voters before they enter the voting booth.

"This is a great opportunity to meet candidates and to see who I will be voting for," Hayes said.

Federal races in the upcoming election cycle include those for U.S. Senate and U.S. House District 3. State races include governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, agriculture commissioner and Florida House District 22.

Local races include Gainesville mayor, Alachua County Commission District 2, School Board Districts 1, 2, 3 and 5, Gainesville City Commission Districts 2, 3 and 4, and circuit judge for the 8th Judicial Circuit Group 12.

"We're looking for a great turnout. We're trying to break records here," Anderson said. "To encourage early voting, particularly in the urban community."

The Primary Election is Aug. 23, with early voting running through Saturday.

The following early voting sites are open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Gainesville unless otherwise noted.

• Supervisor of Elections Office: 515 N. Main St,

• Millhopper Branch Library: 3145 NW 43rd St.

• Tower Road Branch Library: 3020 SW 75th St.

• Orange Heights Baptist Church: 16700 FL-26, Hawthorne.

• Legacy Park Multipurpose Center: 15400 Peggy Road, Alachua.

• J. Wayne Reitz Union: 655 Reitz Union Drive, UF Campus.

• Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center: 23100 W. Newberry Road, Newberry.

The General Election will be held on Nov. 8.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Souls to the Polls event held Sunday near Elections Office in Gainesville