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Cloudy skies during the morning hours followed by thunderstorms in the afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 74F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..
Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, then cloudy skies overnight. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Updated: May 15, 2024 @ 2:18 am
Dozens gathered for Sunday's Souls to the Polls march that brought out several candidates in the upcoming November election.
Currently counties throughout North Carolina are holding early voting in the days leading up to the Nov. 8 election. In Alamance County early voting hours are 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday . This Saturday will be the last early voting day.
With election officials opting to bring back Sunday early voting in 2020, local organizations took the opportunity to start the nationwide tradition of Souls to the Polls, in which parishioners collectively go to vote following a Sunday service.
"This is our third time having [early Sunday voting]" said Future Alamance President Dejuana Warren-Bigelow. " Before 2020 we could never do a souls to the polls because...we did not have open polling day on Sunday."
Future Alamance, the organization that put on Sunday's and past Souls to the Polls events, kicked off the event in the parking lot of the Dollar General on Rauhut Street before the dozens gathered began marching to the Elmira Community Center early voting precinct. Prior to that Warren-Bigelow kicked things off by providing those gathered with information about early voting hours.
Prior to the march, several candidates on Alamance County's ballot spoke to the crowd in the hopes of garnering last minute support.
Board of Education candidate Seneca Rogers talked about the need for a change to Alamance County's Education Board.
"I feel like today is the day we start a new era," Rogers said. "We can talk about how hopeful we can be for what this school system will look like and what we can do for our community."
Others offered similar sentiments, while Soil and Water Candidates Donna VanHook and Brandy Whittaker spoke about the importance of maintaining the county's water and soil and the importance of representation, other candidates touched on what's at stake in the upcoming election.
"We stand on the shoulders of so many folks, ancestors, leaders in our community," said state representative Ricky Hurtado. "I'm excited to cast my vote today, not just for candidates, but for a more just Alamance County."
District 64 Candidate Ron Osborne echoed Hurtado's sentiments.
"I'm here because I don't care," Osborne said. "I don't care what you believe in, I don't care where you're from and I don't care who you love. What I care about is how we treat each other."
Candidate for Alamance County Sheriff Kelly White fired up the crowd, alluding to the 2020 March to the polls that was abruptly ended by police.
"This day is important for all of Alamance County residents," White said. "When you cast your vote today, all of Alamance County is going to hear about the change that is ready to come."
County commissioner candidate Anthony Pierce agreed.
"We care," Pierce said. "We care that our teachers are having to work two or three jobs, we care that that all of these communities across the county has never had a seat at the table."
Congressional Senate Candidate Sean Ewing made the trip from Mebane, where he serves as a councilmember, to march.
"Your vote matters," Ewing said. "We're going to harp on this over and over...we have until November 8 to get everyone out, as much as possible so we can turn the tides this election."
This article originally appeared on Times-News: Alamance County Souls to the Polls event draws committed voters
